Federal Govt To Continue With Business Reforms Agenda –
The Buhari administration will continue to push its business reform agenda for which the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, (PEBEC) was established, so as to create an enabling environment for more investments in the country, including from Nigerians abroad according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Prof. Osinbajo spoke at the Presidential Villa yesterday while receiving some of the participants at the ongoing Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit, NDIS, led by chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NiDCOM),
Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the acting governor of Ondo state, Mr. Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa.
He noted the contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora to the economy, especially with the remittances sent into the country and said, “when you look at the role the diaspora has played in our economy, the remittances are wonderful and that is huge, relatively speaking,” according to a statement by media aide to the vice president, Laolu Akande.
The VP then stated that while it is clear there is rising interest to invest at home by Nigerians abroad, what would bring more investments from those in the diaspora, “is to create the environment that ensures it is easy for them to invest.
“It is now obvious that there are incredible opportunities that can be taken advantage of by our folks in the diaspora. They can see and recognize those advantages.”
The VP stressed the seriousness with which the administration is taking the Ease of Doing Business Initiative. He observed the challenges involved in working through a “bureaucracy that is accustomed to being more of an obstacle than a facilitator.”
But he added “we are breaking that - bureaucracy is everywhere and tends to be that way and after a while, regulators (of businesses) don’t recognize anymore that the reason they are there is to facilitate business. They are more policemen than facilitators.”
He also acknowledged that some regulators “are beginning to understand that the economy depends on how well they do their work and how easy it is for people to come through their gates and leave their gates with some success.
“There is a great deal more attention being paid to achieving something and we have had discussions with several of the regulators including the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC. We have seen substantial changes in their approach and attitude.