It was a long list of concern by captains and key players in the Organised Private Sector (OPS) on Thursday, at the first formal meeting of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State with the business community on ease of doing business in Nigeria’s commercial hub.
But Governor Ambode speaking on some of his plans said he would be collapsing the multiple levies and permits on businesses in the state into a single permit structure, disclosing plans to guarantee a 24-hour power supply by 2017 via the establishment of power clusters across Lagos.
Ambode also said the light-rail system on Mile 2-Marina corridor would commence commercial operations by December 2016, and that he had opened discussions with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to establish a microfinance bank to help micro and businesses access loans.
Some issues raised by the OPS, which comprises the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and NASI, were the ease of land acquisition and perfection of titles, multiplicity of levies, especially as imposed by the local governments.
Others include the daily gridlock, relocation of petroleum tank farms, getting small businesses into industrial clusters, timely completion of the light rail system and the need to liaise with the federal authorities to complete the abandoned trailer park in Apapa, where the country’s two busiest seaports are located.
Nike Akande, president, LCCI, opened the floor, saying, “perfection of land titles and securing Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in Lagos State takes an unduly long time, sometimes about two years or more. We urge your Excellency to please look into this to ensure expeditious approvals. Without these titles, it is difficult for investors to raise funds from the banks using the land as collaterals.”
Babatunde Odunayo, chairman, Apapa branch of MAN, wants the governor to do more to free Apapa and other parts of the state of gridlock, taking a toll on businesses.
“Manufacturers embedded within the Tincan Ports lose serious businesses. Staff and trucks are stocked in traffic every day and this discourages investments,” Odunayo said, and tasked the governor to leverage the party-line relationship between Lagos and federal authorities to complete the trailer opposite the Tincan Port.
Rotimi Ogunleye, commissioner for commerce, industry and cooperatives, said the corporate assembly tagged “A+ meets business” was a platform to constantly feel the pulse the business community, noting the state was poised to assist businesses realise their goals.
JOSHUA BASSEY
