Fayemi: I’ll Make Ekiti Among Top Five Investment Destinations in Nigeria

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said his government waas resolute about making the state one of the top five investment destinations in Nigeria before exiting office in 2022.

He claimed that the determination triggered the establishment of Ease of Doing Business Steering Committee (EoDB) to drive the sector by creating enabling environment for investors.

Fayemi gave the assurance in Ado Ekiti, on Tuesday, during an interface between EoDB Committee and Ekiti Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (EKICCIMA).

Fayemi, represented by the Director General, Ekiti Development and Investment Promotion Agency (EKDIPA), Damola Ajibade, assured the gathering that Ekiti would eliminate all forms of encumbrances for businesses to thrive and for rapid economic development.

He said EKDIPA was conceptualised in 2019 by his administration to improve the ease of doing business in the state.

“For businesses to thrive in Ekiti State, EKDIPA was established to complete process for payment of registration online.

We have established a website through which this can be done easily and it had helped in eliminating corruption, extortion and administrative bottlenecks being encountered by intending investors.

“We are making permit process more transparent while also improving the ease of doing business. By our activities, we are attracting and retaining investments in Ekiti better than before,” he said.

Reeling off other reforms that had been initiated and helped to attract investments to Ekiti, Fayemi added: “The Ease of doing Business Steering Committee had effected automation of PAYE registration, streamlining the process for obtaining Governor’s consent and registering deeds of assignments.

“It had also mainstreamed introduction of online payment of taxes, setting of minimum threshold of six high court judgements per quarter and establishment of small claim courts in Ekiti.

“Efforts are also on top gear for establishment of trade facilitation centre in Ekiti, which will be driven by EKDIPA to make Ekiti a destination of choice in the country in the area of business establishment and promotion,” the governor said.

Also, the Director General, Ekiti State Small and Medium Scale Development Agency, Mr. Kayode Fasae, said the government was making frantic efforts to improve SMEs in the state through giving of tax holidays to business owners.

Fasae stated that the government had used the instrumentality of ICT to eliminate all forms of multiple taxation that were affecting business interests and creating a huge burden to intending investors.

The DG also disclosed that Fayemi’s government had been facilitating financial helps for owners SMEs in the state to create stable job opportunities and make the productive population active to contribute to economic growth.