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Gov Abdulrazaq pledges to change narrative of doing business in Kwara

...releases N5m to boost rice production

 

Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq on Tuesday pledged
to implement reforms to ease business climate in the state, saying the
current narrative about it ranking lowest in the North Central region
is unacceptable.
The Governor, who was presented by his deputy, Kayode Alabi, said
various concrete steps are already being taken to make business
transactions a lot easier and faster to attract investors.
Abdulrazaq made this known during the North Central regional
engagement on Ease of Doing Business which was organised by the
Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and the
Kwara State Government.
The Governor expressed dismay at a World Bank report in 2018 which
ranked Kwara 30th out of 37 states including the FCT — and the lowest
in the North Central — in the ease of doing business.
“On the national average, according to the report, Kwara ranked the
lowest among its peers in the North Central. In terms of starting a
business, Kwara ranked 7th out of the seven states sampled in the
zone, including the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja).  In dealing
with construction permit, we ranked 4th out of seven; in registering
of properties, Kwara ranked 6th out of seven; and in terms of
enforcing contract, Kwara ranked 7th out of the seven states/places,”
AbdulRazaq said.
“This was the stark reality of our state — and it only confirmed our
position that this state was practically run aground, notwithstanding
the propaganda. We have decided to put these figures in perspective
not necessarily to brood over the past but to challenge ourselves on
the need to do things differently as we get set to rewrite the story
of our state. Our officials are to note that this narrative must
change going forward. Kwara must reclaim its glory!”
He added that many steps are being taken by his administration to turn
the page, citing the ongoing reforms at the Kwara State Internal
Revenue Service (KW-IRS) and the efforts to run e-governance which
have begun with the strictly online administration of students’
bursary and upcoming take off of e-learning from the Kwara State
Library.
In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing
Business (PEBEC), Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said PEBEC has done a lot within
the last three years to ease the business environment in Nigeria, with
the country moving many inches up the ladder in global ranking.
She charged the North Central zone, which she called a vital trade
corridor in Nigeria, to break some barriers against SMEs by
implementing reforms already recommended by PEBEC which itself has
carried out over 140 reforms.
Participants took time to narrate their experience about running
businesses, with many of them urging government to work on the cost of
running business and cut interest rates.
The event was attended by the Secretary to the Kwara State Government
Prof Mamman Saba Jibril; Chief of Staff to the Governor Aminu Adisa
Logun; Kwara Commissioners-designate; PEBEC Enabling Business
Environment Secretariat Project Manager Ayokunnu Ojeniyi;
representatives of federal government agencies among others.


…releases N5m to boost rice production

As part of measures to revive agriculture and boost rice production,
the Kwara State Government said it has released N5million to farmers
to boost rice production.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Ahmed Mohammed Katsina,
who disclosed this in an interview with BusinessDay on the state’s
plan to improve rice production, posited that Governor Abdulrahman
Abdulrazaq was determined to restore the lost glory of the state in
agriculture.
According to him, Eagle rice a Kwaran brand made the state proud in
the 70’s and 80’s but owing to total neglect of agriculture, the
production suffered a setback.
“The governor gave farmers in Dukunlade N5million cash to encourage
them to put more effort into the production of rice in the state,”
Katsina said.
He revealed that the governor has promised to also support the farmers
with improved rice seedlings.
On border closure, Katsina described it as a welcome development,
saying that the country’s borders have become so porous that illegal
commodities are easily finding its way to markets across the country
as well as firearms.
“To me, the decision on border closure is effective and helpful to
Nigerians,” he said.
“This is an opportunity for Nigerians to appreciate what they have and
then be proud of it as well. What is the essence of asking people to
go to the farm and there will be no patronage?” he asked.
He admonished Nigerians to remain calm and accept the recent border closure.
“What we are presently going through that is just for a short time,
the hardship is not going to be forever, we shall rejoice in the end
as there is no sweet with ought sweat,” he further said.
In his submission, Hameed Ibrahim, director of Veterinary unit in the
ministry lauded Buhari as he noted that that, the directive was to
checkmate abnormalities and as well attain global standards.
“Apart from rustling, diseases are crossing borders through animals. I
think the border closure will go far to curtail illegalities in our
borders and regulate the movement of goods and services,” he said.

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