Ife Ogunfuwa
Stakeholders in the private sector say Nigeria’s competitiveness within Africa will improve if the government bridges the infrastructure deficit in the country.
The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria spoke at a workshop organised by the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria in Lagos.
They also called for an improvement in port facilities to facilitate participation of Nigeria in the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The Director-General, NACCIMA, Ayoola Olukanni, said policies must be implemented to improve ease of doing business and to reduce the cost of doing business, especially for SMEs, which contribute about 48 per cent to the national GDP and provide about 84 per cent employment according to various studies.
Border reopening critical to recession exit, says NACCIMA - Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics thenationonlineng.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thenationonlineng.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
•NEC worried about health facilities being overwhelmed
By Omololu Ogunmade, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja, Nume Ekeghe and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos
Members of the organised private sector (OPS) and some economic analysts yesterday warned against a fresh lockdown of the economy as part of curbs to tackle the uptick in COVID-19 cases, which heralded the onset of a second wave of the pandemic.
The incidence reached a new high yesterday with data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NDDC) showing a new high of 1,145 new cases of COVID-19 that beat Wednesday’s record of 930 positive cases.
Lagos remains the epicentre of the pandemic with 459 cases while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) followed with 145 incidents.
Nigeria: Rice, Poultry, Others Remained Banned As Govt Reopens 4 Borders allafrica.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from allafrica.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
However, the ban on importation of rice, poultry, among others remained enforced, the federal government said on Wednesday.
With the latest development, import and export of approved goods would begin in earnest after months of closure, a development that impeded businesses and social activities.
Our correspondents report that the news of the reopening of the borders had elicited thunderous applause in the affected communities with residents saying life will come back to normal.
Millions of Nigerians had decried the closure of the borders, saying the development had aggravated poverty, made the cost of basic needs high and crippled the source of livelihood of many.