The Chinese company, Zhongshan, whose export processing zone management contract was revoked by the Ogun State government in 2016, has expressed its willingness to resolve its dispute with the Nigerian government. According to a statement reported by Premium Times on August 15, 2024, Zhongshan emphasized its confidence in the legal process and the favorable arbitral ruling it received.
The company stated, “Zhongshan has only ever sought to assert its rights under international law and is confident in its case. The independent arbitral panel found unanimously in its favor, and courts in multiple countries have upheld the view that the panel’s compensation should be enforced. The French court was fully aware of the facts when it reached its decision.”
Zhongshan also highlighted the international significance of the Ogun Free Trade Zone, recognized globally as a key investment by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The company reiterated its readiness to engage in serious negotiations with the Nigerian government to reach a settlement but noted it is still awaiting a positive response from the authorities.
This development follows a recent ruling by a French court authorizing the seizure of three presidential jets linked to the Nigerian government. The court’s decision is part of an effort to enforce the $74.5 million compensation awarded to Zhongshan by the arbitration panel. Bailiffs have already served legal papers preventing the movement, sale, or purchase of the jets until the compensation is paid.
In response to the court’s decision, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, described the French court’s order as an “arm-twisting tactic” by Zhongshan. He claimed that the company had misled the court by withholding crucial information. Onanuga further argued that the presidential jets, which were in France for routine maintenance, are protected by diplomatic immunity as sovereign assets and should not be subject to foreign court rulings.
Despite ongoing efforts by both the Federal and Ogun State governments to resolve the dispute, the matter remains unresolved.
