Lagos commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives,
Dr Lola Akande
The Lagos State Government has
promised to ease the way of doing business in the state through exploration of
opportunities that would enhance synergy between the state and the business
community.
The state Commissioner for Commerce,
Industry and Cooperatives, Dr Lola Akande, made the promise at a meeting tagged
“Lagos Business Community: Toward Making Lagos State a 21st Century
Economy” held at Alausa, Ikeja.
The commissioner, noted that the
meeting was an opportunity to dialogue with the business community and generate
useful ideas.
“Let us know what they feel about
new policies and if they have suggestions.
“We want to know how convenient it
is for them.
“I believe the way of doing business
in the state is much better than it used to be because of so many things the
government has put in place,” the commissioner said.
Akande said that Lagos State
remained an investment hub owing to its growing population and efforts to
ensure security of lives and property.
“We have a lot of constructions
going on; once there is a network of good roads, prices of goods will come
down and foreign investors will want to come in.
“Lagos State has the market for any
business, we have the population as people troop into the state every second,
this means we have markets.
“Lagos is an investment hub;
security-wise, we are okay, considering the security outfit in place. l assure
you we are relatively secure,” Akande said.
The President of the Lagos Chamber
of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mrs Toki Mabogunje, called for an
understanding on common issues between the business community and state
government.
“We want to achieve some
understanding on common issues that concern the organised private sector.
“It is important for government to
explain to us steps it has taken to resolve some of these issues and to
consider LCCI’ s solution around these issues,” she said.
She urged the government to
reconsider multiple taxation and tackle traffic congestion.
According to her, the two issues
hinder smooth running of business in the state and this
makes it difficult for LCCI to
attract investors to the state.
“I hope that government will put
into consideration all the issues and proffer solutions as fast as
possible in order not to scare away investors,” Mabogunje said.
The LCCI president also urged the
government to focus more on infrastructure development and carry
LCCI’ along in its policies.
