Ambode, Agbaje pledge to promote entrepreneurship

A head of the February 28 governorship election in Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode and Jimi Agbaje, gubernatorial candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have pledged to support entrepreneurs as well as small and medium scale operators through adequate financing and good business environment.

The two leading gubernatorial candidates in Lagos gave this promise during a private sector initiative forum  held weekend at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

According to Ambode, his government will ensure that entrepreneurs, especially youths, have easy access to finance to ensure that many more jobs are created in the Lagos economy.

Ambode said he will encourage  the entertainment, arts and other industries by making financing cheaper and easier for them , stressing that he will improve the business environment for the private sector, while ensuring that there are additional seaports in Lekki and Badagry.

“What we want to do is to create the environment for the private sector to thrive. Lagos is larger than 30 countries in Africa, while only 10 percent of economic activities take place in the formal sector. We need to explore our resources and improve lives of Lagosians” Ambode said

Responding at an allegation of multiplicity of taxes in the state, Ambode said he intends to allow the private sector to come in and harmonise taxes.

He said the earlier revenue projection of Lagos, which stood at N139 billion, will likely be affected by the dwindling oil prices, but assured Lagosians that the state will not feel too much of its impact because two-thirds of revenue comes from the internationally generated revenue (IGR).

He promised to approach the National Assembly to ensure that the Value Added Tax (VAT), which is currently being collected by the Federal Government, returns to states.

“I believe with my experience in the private and public sectors, there are greater things I can do for Lagos.”

“We are the first to provide housing at single-digit units. We are looking at improving technology,” he added, while answering a question on rising housing demands in the state.

However, Jimi Agbaje said there has not been clear policies that are targeted at reducing the cost of land in the state. Putting the number of people who need housing yearly at 200,000, Agbaje promised to provide cheap finance to enable the majority of the poor and middle-class groups to own their houses. He promised to reduce the number to number by more than half, saying that it is high time the state saw the Federal Government as a partner rather than just a big brother.

He said his government will address issues of difficulties in getting permits and bureaucracy, among others.

He further said he will ensure Lagosians use the railway network and develop other means of transportation to ease movement of goods and persons.

He promised to replicate the Eko Atlantic City on Badagry, Epe and other areas  of Lagos to reduce pressure on Lagos Island. He equally while also ensuring that the state reduces Apapa gridlocks.

He said as a key private sector person, he will improve the environment for small, medium and large scale enterprises, adding that he will diversify the state economy by exploiting the waters and improving processing and agric value chain.

“I am looking at Lagos that brings opportunities to everyone irrespective of religion, ethnicity and tribe<’he said.

On his part, Remo Bello, president, LCCI, who was the host, said Lagos is very strategic to the Nigerian economy, with an estimated GDP of $91 billion.

According to him, the interactive forum has become necessary as the private sector in the state has become a major stakeholder, having regard to the contributions to state’s revenue, job creation and the general advancement of the economy.

“The event of today is to assist our decision in our choice of who should be the next governor,” he said.

“The exercise is very crucial because the quality of political governance has profound implications for the quality of investment environment,” he stressed.

ODINAKA ANUDU