We will provide a friendly environment for business – Gov. Sanwo-Olu

The business community in Lagos State has received assurances from Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, about the state’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a business-friendly atmosphere.

At the 8th Edition of the Lagos Corporate Assembly, also known as BOS Meets With Business Community, which took place on Friday at Lagos House in Ikeja, the Governor provided the assurance.

Speaking at the function, the governor said that the state is open to collaboration and partnerships because they are win-win situations that will help the government complete tasks more quickly.

“The administration would continue to promote businesses as there is a large market ready to absorb all that the manufacturers have to produce,” he said, despite the State’s financial and political constraints. Additionally, the administration would continue to provide industrial hubs for use as incubators for new businesses, and we are currently building a new 44-unit light industrial park in Imota specifically for MSMEs.

Lekki Free Zone Development Company was instructed by Governor Sanwo-Olu to lower their fees so that investors could take advantage of the numerous opportunities.

Sanwo-Olu charged concerned government agencies in charge of guaranteeing the safety of industrial workplaces to work through the Harmonised Inspection Team for workplace inspection in response to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria’s (MAN) observations. He also gave the order for no PSP operators licenced by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to operate without a licence or with one that has expired.

Governor Sanwo-Olu responded to the MSMEs plan by telling the audience that MSMEs are included in the Lagos business plan and that the administration has already finalised plans to hold the 8th edition of the yearly MSMEs Exclusive Fair, which will take place from December 12–17, 2023.

“Let me tell you that the administration will be inviting appropriate Federal Government agencies to participate in the next edition of this programme next year and to directly address some of the issues raised at the event,” he said.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who was also present at the event, urged investors and business owners to follow the law and work with the government to ensure that the various policies intended to improve businesses in the State are implemented.

He said, “Let me tell you that the administration is prepared and eager to collaborate with you to maintain business prosperity in the State.”

Ms. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, Commissioner for Trade, Cooperatives, and Investment, stated that the State Government would keep up its engagement with all Captains of Industries, business leaders, Business Membership Organisations, Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), and other significant players in the business sector through the use of platforms like the Corporate Assembly.

In her own words, “The Organised Private Sector has played a crucial role in enabling Lagos State to achieve the level of prominence it does today.” For this reason, in addition to maintaining the current rate of growth, the administration would keep enhancing its cooperation with OPS stakeholders in order to quicken the State’s development momentum. We’ll start a dialogue that will guarantee the State doesn’t lose sight of its unwavering commitment to climbing the global Ease of Doing Business index and making steady progress towards inclusive growth that will benefit citizens and investors alike.

In order to aggressively transform the State into a modern economy and satisfy the desires and aspirations of all stakeholders, including the business community, the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Development Agenda was conceived as a comprehensive strategic document to guide the Sanwo-Olu administration in the areas of policy formulation, development, implementation, and evaluation against set parameters, she added.

Ambrose-Medebem went on to say that the State Government would keep enacting laws through the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment with the goal of advancing a sustainable business environment for all parties involved in the State.