Chairman of Kresta Laurel Limited and former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, has called on the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for indigenous engineering companies, lamenting the lack of structured support for Nigerian businesses operating in high-tech sectors traditionally dominated by expatriates.
 
Daniel, who made the appeal at the company’s 35th anniversary interactive forum in Lagos, expressed concern that despite their technical capabilities, many Nigerian firms continue to struggle due to systemic neglect and an unfriendly business environment.
   
He said while foreign companies enjoy the backing of their home governments, including financial and diplomatic support, indigenous Nigerian businesses were left to survive on their own, often battling hostile taxation, poor infrastructure, and regulatory bottlenecks.
   
His words: “You will be shocked that most of those companies have government support, and that is why when you see the names of those companies, they always have Chinese there. Those companies are partially owned by the government, and so the government goes out of its way to create support for them.
 
On the contrary, we do more to discourage entrepreneurs than we do to encourage them.

“People usually crack jokes that what happens in other locations all over the world, you have to provide your own water, your own electricity, your own security. Virtually everything you are doing yourself, and on top of that, you have multiple targets on the system.”
   
The chairman noted that such unfair practices have driven many indigenous companies into extinction, adding that only a few, like Kresta Laurel, have managed to survive due to their long-term vision and commitment to excellence.
   
He described the business environment as frustrating, warning that without urgent policy changes, the government risks stifling local innovation and sabotaging its own developmental goals.

Daniel urged government agencies to emulate developed nations by prioritising indigenous firms and enforcing policies that promote local content and sustainability.
   
Managing Director of the company, Dideolu Falobi, said the firm had to work twice as hard to gain the trust of international elevator and escalator manufacturers due to scepticism around local competence.
   
He added that many businesses fail not because they are incapable, but because of policy inconsistencies, limited access to funding, and lack of government patronage.