Organize private sector engine to enhance economic growth – Ortom tells BENCOBPA

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom says the organised private sector is critical to enhanced economic growth of any economy.

Governor Ortom stated this Tuesday, November 22nd, 2022 when he received a delegation of the Benue Coalition of Business and Professional Associations, BENCOBPA who paid him a courtesy call at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.

The Governor acknowledged that sustainable economic development initiatives across the globe were championed by the organised private sector, noting that the government was responsible for providing an enabling environment.

According to the Governor, the key to unlocking economic growth of the state was in the hands of Benue people.

“No other person can do it for us here in Benue. We have to do it ourselves and your Coalition is key to this because you have links with the international community. Your ideas from them and whatever we can replicate here to make things work, we are ready to work with you,” Ortom told the professionals.

He spoke further, “I want to commend you for standing with the state to ensure that at least in your own little way, you add value and make us produce the best standards not just in our businesses but in all sectors.”

Governor Ortom particularly noted the available economic potentials of the state, like in the agricultural value chain and in the cultivation of cassava and other root crops.

He however lamented that insecurity has remained a big challenge in attracting more investors into the state, adding that, “The primary responsibility of every responsible government is to ensure security of lives and property, where you do not have security, nothing can work, no professional or investor can invest in such an environment,” he stated.

While commending BENCOBPA for not giving up despite the challenges, Ortom charged the professionals to project into the future and look at areas of sustainability that will continue to drive economic growth and development of the state.

“What you are doing as professionals, please continue to do it. It is not easy doing it here in Benue State. I know as someone who is from the organised private sector, you may face issues of transport, issues of electricity, issues of funding and all that, but please do not give up,” Governor Ortom stated.

The Governor further maintained that it was to alleviate the challenge of businesses, especially with regards to collateral for accessing loans that his administration had slashed to 50% land fees for processing of certificate of occupancy, since it was a common requirement for taking bank loans.

On the request by BENCOBPA for a piece of land for its state secretariat, the Governor directed them to apply formally to the Ministry for Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals where land will be allocated to them.

Earlier, President of BENCOBPA, Barrister Donatus Zuanah told the Governor that the Coalition is an amalgam of 18 business and Professional Associations, which were brought together and trained by the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) an affiliate of the American Chambers of Commerce in Washington DC, USA.

He acknowledged that free trade was increasingly becoming the norm in the globalised world, noting that with the coming into effect of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) Agreement and Nigeria ratifying the instrument, any state that fails to industrialise or become a big player in commerce and trade will be a big loser,

He extolled the Governor for providing an enabling environment for business in the state, and expressed appreciation to the State Government for slashing down the land fees by 50%.

The BENCOBPA President also lauded the Governor for staking his life for his people in the face of the unjustified, wanton and unwarranted killings by marauding herdsmen.