The Vice Presidential aspirant of the New Peoples Party (NNPP) Mr. Olufemi Ajadi has cried, saying Nigeria lacks basic infrastructure, which is a hindrance to entrepreneurial viability.
Mr. Ajadi who is the Managing Director of Bullion Go-Neat Global LTD spoke during an interaction with a group of online Journalists in Lagos, where he urged the federal government to do something about the matter urgently.
He said that no serious government would allow the level of disrepair of public infrastructure the way it is being seen in the country currently, wondering why the administration had not thought it urgent enough to fix electricity, roads, and water.
“It is obvious that Nigeria lacks basic infrastructure in the country.
“Many roads are impassable, and the several potholes in others lead to vehicular deaths within a short time of commuting on them”.
He said as a company he had been forced to jettison reliance on public electricity supply for a long time now but that had resulted to increase overheads and subsequently higher prices.
Ajadi said the challenges posed for entrepreneurs by the absence of needed infrastructure in the country were being worsened by double taxation.
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According to him, the agencies of the government need to explain what and why they were duplicating taxes for companies struggling to survive.
“The way things are in the country now, it has become extremely difficult for companies, SMEs to survive.
“If the government truly wants to make the economy grow, it should address these problems.
“I know what I suffered before I was able to stand, but not many entrepreneurs can have that kind of survival quality. Government should come to the aid of entrepreneurs.
“It needs these companies to fight youth idleness and crime.
“It should also make banks provide soft loans for business”.
He reiterated the point that the level of crime would have reduced had there been a conducive environment for entrepreneurs.
Ajadi however encouraged upcoming entrepreneurs not to relent, as according to him, perseverance would enable them to succeed in their endeavors.
He reiterated the need for the government to harmonize taxes payable by entrepreneurs to make the business environment more permissive for entrepreneurs.