The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is collaborating with security agencies such as the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Navy, to enhance the security and improve business confidence. Nike Akande, President, LCCI, said that no meaningful business can be done in an environment that is insecure.
According to her, security of lives and property are very critical factor in the investment environment. “In recent years, the country has been grappling with security issues bordering on terrorism, religious and ethnic crises, attacks on oil installations, kidnapping, armed robbery, attacks by herdsmen and others. The impact of these security challenges on business is phenomenal,” she said.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Major Gen. David Ahmadu, said the army had done a lot to rout criminals in major cities in Nigeria. He said, following the operations of the army in major trouble spots like Ikorodu and others, oil vandals had been flushed out, adding that similar operation were being planned for other areas that the vandals had relocated to.
Representing the NSCDC, the Lagos State Commandant of the Corps, Mr Tajudeen Balogun, disclosed that the agency had been working with the Ministry of Solid Minerals to provide security in the mining sector as well as the Directorate of Petroleum Resources to stop the circulation of adulterated petroleum products.
The Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr Muhammed Babandede, disclosed that the service had harmonised arrival and departure forms like yellow card, immigration and Customs and quarantine into one form to make it easy for people travelling for business.
“As far as Federal Government is concerned, we are all government agencies. There is no need to fill three forms. I am glad to tell you that we have harmonised these forms. In the next 30 days, there is going to be only one form,” he said.
Dike Onwuamaeze