By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Acting Governor of Niger State, Comrade Yakubu Garba, has reaffirmed the administration's commitment to re...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Acting Governor of Niger State, Comrade Yakubu Garba, has reaffirmed the administration's commitment to removing barriers that hinder business establishment and growth within the state.
He made this statement during the inaugural edition of the Niger State Public-Private Dialogue (NSPPD), organized by the Niger State Investment Promotion Agency (NSIPA) under the theme "Understanding and Improving the Niger State Business Environment," held at the Government House in Minna, the state capital.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Abubakar Usman, the Acting Governor emphasized that the state government is focused on creating an enabling environment that supports businesses while providing incentives as part of its New Niger Agenda. This initiative aims to revitalize the life cycles of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to generate jobs and significantly contribute to the state's economic growth.
He disclosed that the state government has simplified regulatory frameworks and enhanced the overall ease of doing business by reducing permit processing time by 50% and introducing a single-window clearance system, which allows businesses to complete all necessary paperwork in one place, significantly reducing bureaucratic constraints.
The Acting Governor further revealed that the state government recently allocated land with Certificates of Occupancy to Sahad Store, 4U, Shegalinku, H-Medix, and Shoprite to establish branches in Minna. He added that these are deliberate policies designed to make the state a more accessible and attractive place to start and grow a business.
Noting that stakeholder engagement is vital for continuous improvement in the state's business environment, Comrade Garba assured that the state government will continue collaborating with the private sector to gather feedback.
He praised the Niger State Investment Promotion Agency (NSIPA) for the initiative, stating that it clearly demonstrates the administration's commitment to making Niger State a hub for businesses.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, Hajiya Amina Sanusi, explained that the objectives of the session were to enhance relationships among the MDAs in the state, lay the foundation for investment climate reforms to improve state competitiveness, gather feedback, and address issues within the business environment.
She highlighted that the Agency is actively working to improve the business climate in the state and is collaborating with other relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to achieve the objectives of the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms Program (SABER).
Hajiya Amina emphasized the importance of collaboration between government agencies and private companies, noting that the state is endowed with immense opportunities awaiting exploration.
In their goodwill messages, the Team Lead of P3 Consulting Ltd., Mr. Nosa Osunde, and the Vice President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, Alh. Liman Suleiman, commended NSIPA for their efforts in improving the state's business environment and assured continued collaboration in various sectoral value chains.
The event featured paper presentations on Investment Promotion and the Role of the Public-Private Sector in Enhancing the State's Business Environment, as well as a panel discussion on issues surrounding the sustainability of businesses in the state.
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