Kunle Adelabu
The Lagos State Government has charged the Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, to accommodate a regulatory body in charge of business to provide ease of doing business for the Organised Business Sector (OPS).
Hon (Dr) Mrs Lola Akande, Commissioner for Commissioner, Industry and Cooperatives, gave the charge on Friday, March 4, 2022, during the Ikorodu Business Community Breakfast Meeting with Ayangbure, organized by the Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS).
The Commissioner said that having the regulatory bodies under a roof in Ikorodu would ease challenges being faced by business owners in the division.
She said that SMEs can get their registration and product certification done easily if NAFDAC, SON and other regulating bodies have offices in Ikorodu.
Mrs Akande, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, spoke on, ‘Ease of Doing Business in Ikorodu Division’.
“I will like to call the attention of Ikorodu – Oga Development Association, the Organised Private Sector in its entirety to come together and establish a One – Stop – Shop for the purpose of removing bottleneck in getting the products of MSMEs Operators certified and registered with same Federal and State Government Agencies, such as NAFDAC, SON, CAC, NEPC, BOA etc, within Ikorodu Division”, Dr Akande said.
The Commissioner, who said that the OPS are driving government policies, also added that the government will not rest on its oars to improve the business environment in the state and Ikorodu Division in particular.
“Unarguably, the Organised Private Sector (OPS) drives government policies for an enabling business environment”, she said.
“As a foremost catalyst of our State’s industrialization drive, responsive for production and value – addition in manufacturing, trade and commercial services, you would agree with me that this sector, indeed, has contributed significantly to not only our economic regeneration, but to employment and wealth creation, poverty alleviation, and qualitative standards of living.
“You may please note that there are various challenges that make doing business in Nigeria difficult such as infrastructure, access to finance, access to market, unemployment and high inflation. These are limited opportunities for MSMEs Operators who often receive very little education and training, yet they are expected to compete in increasingly global markets.
“Let me assure, that we shall not rest on our oars until business prosperity is guaranteed. This is because the Lagos State Government is not oblivious of the fact that to achieve our dream of becoming Africa’s model megacity by 2025, we must continue to improve our business climate so as to attract more private sector investments into the State, create jobs, increase productivity and increase the opportunity of ease of doing business in the area of construction permits registration, getting credit, tax payment mechanism, company registration in the State”, the Commissioner said.
