The Executive Secretary, Zamfara State Investment Promotion Agency (ZIPA), Muktar Nadama has identified insecurity as a major bane that has negatively affected the setting up and operation of local businesses in the state.

Nadama also identified epileptic power supply as another challenge affecting the ease of doing business in the northwestern state.

He spoke with newsmen when he was in Katsina State for a three-day subnational tour organised by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) for the northwest region.

He said several small businesses have been unable to thrive due to the two identified challenges, but added that the situation was gradually changing due to concerted efforts by both federal and state governments.

“As you all know Zamfara State is facing insecurity and without security there can never be any business but we are lucky that the present administration both at the state and federal government, is doing everything possible to give us all forms of security we deserve to enable us to bring in investors and participate in our business environment,” he said.

“Insecurity has constrained our ease of doing business to only function within a limited space. You produce, you cannot take it out, because things we produced in Zamfara and we want to sell it here in Katsina, we have to take a long route to bring because I cannot service certain areas that are closer to me because of insecurity.

“But gradually, things are improving because of the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the plans that he rolled out, were beginning to work and we hope that the current Chief of Army Staff will also do the same and the Chief of the Defence Staff has been very helpful.

“I think he had visited Zamfara about four times since his assumption of office. He committed to that programme of a safe environment for businesses to thrive. The State government is doing a lot in that direction as well. We have the community protection gap to augment what the federal government is doing in terms of securing our business environment.

“Secondly, electricity. Prior to the collapse of the national grid, we did not have enough electricity in Zamfara for the business community and they usually depend on diesel or solar, and solar has duration and it is capital intensive.”

Nadama said the PEBEC subnational tour has helped in providing more knowledge to “perform effectively and efficiently and engage the business community as well. It is a very instrumental platform for us to learn.”