Taiwo Hassan 
Following the sustained hunger protests across the country, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called on the Federal Government to quickly ensure the citizens start seeing and feeling the policies and programmes of the government in action without any further delay. The Director-General of LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Almona, who made the call in Lagos, said that the chamber and others in the country’s business community were concerned about the unintended negative impact the #endbadgovernance protests could have on businesses and society at large.
She explained that with all the government claimed to have done in terms of policy reforms and formulation, it is unfortunate that the Nigerian populace are yet to start feeling the positive impact in their daily lives. Almona stated that all the import waivers and tax exemptions should take immediate effect so that businesses and individuals start to enjoy these concessions. According to her, the chamber recognises the right to protest as guaranteed by the constitution. It is only against disruption of businesses, properties and thuggery during mass protests.
Almona said: “The Lagos Chamber has followed the mixed reactions to the nationwide address by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR on the protest against bad governance that started on August 1. While we recognise the right to protest as guaranteed by the constitution, we are concerned about the unintended negative impact such actions could have on businesses and the society at large.
“Beyond the highlights of the achievements so far by this government, a more urgent action to take is to ensure that the citizens start to see and feel the policies and programmes in action without further delay. “For instance, all the import waivers and tax exemptions should take immediate effect so that businesses and individuals start to enjoy these concessions. Critical variables include the cost of doing business, the cost of living (food security), and youth unemployment.
“We call on the government to focus and report progress on these variables that are seen to have links to many other issues in the economy, like poverty, high inflation, increased hunger, heightened crimes, etc.” The LCCI DG also advised that all youth-oriented programmes be fast-tracked such that more youths are rapidly engaged, and others are hopeful of near-term opportunities.
She added: “Apart from the support to academic pursuits through the student loan programme, we have always recommended that government-supported Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) skills acquisition is known to have huge capacity to develop and empower our youth to take up emerging opportunities. “Technology, creative and the arts provide great opportunities that can gainfully engage our youth, home and abroad.”
Speaking further, the economic expert stressed: “The chamber wishes to reiterate the importance quickly implementing the single digit loans to large manufacturers to boost manufacturing output and stimulate growth and the support to small businesses in terms of grants and low interest loans. “With the prevailing high interest rate, companies find it too expensive to access credit from the banks.
“One quick fix is the distribution of the million Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) kits at extremely low or no cost to commercial vehicles that transport people and goods and who currently consume 80 per cent of the imported PMS and AGO, according to the President. This must be expedited.
