Additional details have emerged on why the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, described Lagos State as the best in ease of doing business when compared with other remaining 35 states and Abuja.
The African leading industrialist had made it clear during his goodwill message at the one-day ‘Lagos Means Business’ forum organised by the Lagos State Government on Tuesday, that the difficulties encountered by investors in doing business in many states of Nigeria have a resemblance of ‘hell’.
According to him, “I am not advertising for Lagos, but try another state, you will see hell.”
However, some analysts who spoke with Business Hilights Intelligence Unit (BHIU) on what stood Lagos State out from the crowd in terms of ease of doing business are many and worthy of emulation by other states.
In his submission, a development economist, Dr. Ken Igboanugo said “The first impression Nigerians had about Lagos during the early 80s was that the state is a land of opportunities because if you are serious in any good thing you are doing in the state, you will succeed within a small time”.
“The early success is possible because the earliest settlers were very good to visitors and I think all the succeeding governments have keyed into the provision of enabling environments for businesses to thrive.
“Lagos is by location, a star asset for every kind of genuine investment and in Lagos access to labour, land, capital and every other investment supporting infrastructure are there.
“Besides, government had been introducing policies that tend to support businesses even though there are cases of multiple taxation,” Dr. Igboanugo noted.
Also speaking, another investor and business operator who pleaded anonymity averred that “Lagos has the market due to its population for every business activity and the people are not violent or discriminative in any form”.
Earlier in his address at the ‘Lagos Means Business’ forum, Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, promised to utilize taxes paid by residents judiciously, saying “We are not true citizens until we become responsible tax payers. If the vision of a prosperous Lagos is to be achieved, the State must retreat from borrowing to finance its infrastructure and pay back later in the future with high interest rate.”
