Lagos: LCCI Pleads For Reduction In Cost of Doing Business

Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, has urged the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to look critically at the various components of the cost of doing business in Lagos state, with a view to bringing down this cost.

The President of LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello, who made the call, said the state offers tremendous opportunities for business, but a great deal still needs to be done to bring down the cost of doing business in the state in order to allow the private sector to support the government in the delivery of its mandate especially in the area of job creation and revenue generation.

He noted that the capacity to create jobs and grow revenue is a function of the quality of the investment environment. “We urge the state government to look critically at the numerous taxes and levies imposed on businesses by the agencies of government and the local government.

We need these to be properly streamlined by the governor’s office and published for the information of the public. This will enhance the monitoring and streamlining of the taxes and levies that are payable by businesses in the state,” he said According to him, given the geographical peculiarities of Lagos State especially the topography of the state, the management of coastal erosion    and flood prevention needs to be better consolidated under the new administration.

“The Chamber is concerned about the vulnerability of the state and the challenges of flooding and coastal erosion and this has to be taken even more seriously by the new administration” he said. Bello noted that Jo creation is a national challenge confronting all the states in the federation, as the unemployment situation has reached a crisis level.

“We therefore appreciate the concern demonstrated by the governor in tackling this problem. However, it is our view that the creation of an enabling environment for businesses (particularly SMEs) is perhaps the most potent way to deal with the problem of unemployment.

The President of LCCI, Alhaji Remi Bello, who made the call, said the state offers tremendous opportunities for business, but a great deal still needs to be done to bring down the cost of doing business in the state in order to allow the private sector to support the government in the delivery of its mandate especially in the area of job creation and revenue generation.
He noted that the capacity to create jobs and grow revenue is a function of the quality of the investment environment. “We urge the state government to look critically at the numerous taxes and levies imposed on businesses by the agencies of government and the local government.
We need these to be properly streamlined by the governor’s office and published for the information of the public. This will enhance the monitoring and streamlining of the taxes and levies that are payable by businesses in the state,” he said According to him, given the geographical peculiarities of Lagos State especially the topography of the state, the management of coastal erosion    and flood prevention needs to be better consolidated under the new administration.
“The Chamber is concerned about the vulnerability of the state and the challenges of flooding and coastal erosion and this has to be taken even more seriously by the new administration” he said. Bello noted that Jo creation is a national challenge confronting all the states in the federation, as the unemployment situation has reached a crisis level.
“We therefore appreciate the concern demonstrated by the governor in tackling this problem. However, it is our view that the creation of an enabling environment for businesses (particularly SMEs) is perhaps the most potent way to deal with the problem of unemployment.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/lagos-lcci-pleads-for-reduction-in-cost-of-doing-business/#sthash.cAljt4sV.dpuf

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