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Two leading candidates in the Lagos State governorship race, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) recently unfolded their agenda for the private sector during an interactive session, reports Olisemeka Obeche.
Two leading candidates in the Lagos State governorship race have pledged to create enabling environment for private sector development in the state if voted into power during the April 11, 2015 poll.
The candidates, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) unfolded their agenda for the private sector during an interactive session organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in collaboration with the Organized Private Sector (OPS) recently.
Both candidates pledged to pursue policies that would stimulate private sector growth and the expansion of the economy of the state. Ambode while declaring his intention to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Babatunde Fashola, however, pledged to do more for the transformation of the informal sector of the economy. “It is clear that only 10 percent of the Lagos economy is in the formal sector while the remaining 90 percent is in the informal sector. So, we intend to double the GDP of Lagos State by improving on the informal sector. And we are going to improve the business environment for every entrepreneur and businessman to thrive in the state,” he pledged.
He added: “Beyond that, we are going to create more jobs in addition to allowing youths and the unemployed to have access to finance. We intend to create an employment trust fund that would have N25 billion in the first four years, which would be accessed by the unemployed youths and SMEs in their bid to engage in businesses that will expand and grow the economy of the state.”
On his part, Agbaje promised that if given the mandate, his government would work towards creating a Lagos that is a global megacity, populated by well educated, highly skilled, healthy people living in a secured and prosperous environment as well as give priority attention to the SMEs. “We intend to build a Lagos that brings opportunities to everyone, irrespective of their socio-economic background, gender, tribe or religion; a Lagos that is much more business-friendly, bearing in mind that it is the economic hub of our country,” he said.
The PDP candidate pledged to collaborate with the private sector in its development agenda. “We must bring the private sector involved in infrastructure development, especially in the area of housing, transportation more than it is today so that the benefits can trickle down. We also have to reduce the cost of doing business and attract more investments into the state,” Agbaje said.
Both candidates equally claimed they possess sufficient private sector experience to enable them transform the state into a prosperous megacity if elected to power. “I believe my experience with the public and private sector has equipped me to take Lagos State to a greater height in terms of offering governance of excellence. I believe strongly that public service is a noble service; and I have developed myself internally and externally. I have cutting-edge skills to prepare for the task ahead as the governor of Lagos State”, the APC candidate declared, adding a clincher: “if you are looking for someone that has cognate experience to run this company called Lagos State, that is Akinwunmi Ambode”.
Agbaje equally flaunted his rich private sector credential, declaring: “I come from a private sector background, having started my entrepreneurship (business) from one pharmacy shop up to the level we are today which is small scale manufacturing of pharmaceutical products and representing some multinational manufacturers. If you want to run a Lagos economy that is driven by the private sector, I know where the shoe pinches, having come from the private sector background.”
The President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Remi Bello had earlier highlighted the crucial role of the private sector in the economy of Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general as it is elsewhere. “The private sector in Lagos State has become a major stakeholder in regard to the state revenue, job creation and general advancement of the economy of the state. As in other economies, the private sector is the engine of growth in Lagos,” he declared.
Mr. Bello explained that the state of the economy should be of paramount importance to anybody who aspires to political office in Nigeria and it is the private sector that is in the best position to influence the direction of the economy. “So, the interactive session was primarily designed to assist us in making our choice on who should be the next executive governor of Lagos State. And the engagement process is meant to help our individual electoral decisions,” he said.
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