Doing business in Nigeria easier now than before –Buhari

 

President Muhammadu Buhari says the ease of doing business in Nigeria is better now than before.

 

According to a statement by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, Buhari spoke during Iftar with members of the business community and the leadership of political parties in Abuja on Tuesday night.

 

The president said his administration had done “exceedingly well” in improving the business climate of Nigeria.

 

The president asked the private sector to complement government’s effort in poverty reduction and job creation for young people.

In 2020, Nigeria ranked 131 globally on the World Bank’s ease of doing business index.

 

The country moved up by 15 places from its previous position — 146.

 

‘‘No administration has done as much as we have done in the creation of a climate best suited for business, big and small, to thrive,” Buhari said.

‘‘The ease of doing business index that is globally recognized has acknowledged that the ease with which business is carried out in the country has never been better than it is today. We will continue to make it better.

 

‘‘We will equally continue to count on the support of the private sector to improve economic growth and create new job opportunities for our teeming population.

 

‘‘Employment is critical to stability and prosperity of our country. Government and the private sector, working together, have an opportunity to transform the lives of people in ways that was hard to imagine in the past.”

 

On insecurity, the president asked all political parties in the country to keep elections and election-related differences aside and join his administration’s drive to defeat insecurity.

Describing insecurity as a ‘‘common enemy’’ bedevilling the country, Buhari said the armed forces need more support to combat the security challenges.

 

“Without mass, popular support to our hard working armed forces, it will take us much longer to finish off the successful war we are waging against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping,” he said.

 

“Our country must be kept safe for progress and prosperity to be entrenched.

 

“I look forward to seeing the reflection of this spirit in the relationship between the parties and the government, especially as the electioneering season will soon be on us.”

The president also said the APC will continue to push for the establishment of democratic principles at all levels.

 

‘‘Today, we can proudly say that we have a political system that allows political parties of all views and persuasions, reflecting the diversity of our nation to co-exist, and contest for elections at all levels of government without fear or institutional bias and pressure,” he said.