Group decries poor business climate in Nasarawa

Nasarawa State Coalition of Business Professional Association (NACOBPA) has lamented the poor business climate in the state, which they claimed has crippled small and medium scale businesses.

The group, at the presentation of its revised business agenda in Lafia, said factors crippling business activities include insecurity of life and business properties, poor access to funding for micro and medium scale enterprises.

Other factors, according to the Chairman, NACOBPA, Mrs. Joanna Bello, were poor access to business premises, lack of street numbering and addresses and absence of commodities processing centre/ industrial layout.

Bello regretted that small-scale businesses find it almost impracticable to access funds made available by the Federal Government to boost small businesses, because of the cumbersome and stringent procedures.

Other stakeholders at the interactive session mentioned inadequate power supply as a major huddle that must be surmounted by the state and FG, including multiple taxes on small businesses.

The State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, represented by the Special Adviser on Economic Planning, Mr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, assured that his administration was working towards creating a conducive business climate.The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bola Alonge assured that the command has put all security templates in full force to check activities of criminals.