Gov Otti meets with NBPLC mgt , assures on conducive business environment

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

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Gov Alex Otti in a group photograph with the Nigerian Breweries delegation

 Abia state Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has assured that the state government was willing to create the right environment for businesses to thrive in the state.

 Governor Otti gave the assurance on Tuesday when he received in audience, the management of Nigerian Breweries PLC who paid him a business visit.

The Governor promised that his administration would do everything possible to support the NBL and other genuine businesses in the state to remain afloat.

 Outlining actions of government geared towards enhancing ease of doing business in the state, Governor Otti said that his administration has reformed the Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) collection system and introduced the Treasury Single Account (TSA), as well as legislated on  multiple taxation.

 “We are a business-friendly government and we believe there’s only so much the government can do. We have reformed, like you rightly pointed out, the entire system with respect to internally generated revenue, so that you don’t see people on the streets with clubs chasing citizens and our corporate businesses. We believe that if you appreciate what government is doing, you will willingly pay your tax.

 “We have also legislated away multiple taxation; so you pay directly to the government. We will keep doing that, we know there will always be hiccups, people will resist change like it is but at the end of the day, they begin to appreciate that what government is doing is better for them and everybody.

 “Our government will do everything possible to support you to remain in Abia. If there is anything we can do as a government, don’t hesitate to call our attention to it,” Otti told his visitors.

The Governor encouraged the NBL to be a good corporate citizen and to create more job opportunities for the people. He noted that the creation of job was the panacea to reducing insecurity, noting that a lot of insecurity was being fuelled by unemployment and high level of poverty.

He promised that his administration would look into one of the requests of the NBL team to repair the road leading to the company’s facility.

 Earlier in her speech, the Corporate Affairs Director of NBL, Shade Morgan, who led the team, on behalf of the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Hans Essaadi, had told the Governor that NBL has been operating in the state since 1967 and has continued to invest in the state.

 Shade Morgan said the company has been discharging its social corporate responsibilities and has constructed and renovated classroom blocks in many communities in the state while its community investment in the area of health, water, electricity, has been ongoing.

She highlighted some of the challenges confronting their operations to include poor state of the road leading to the company and requested the Governor to address the deplorable 1.7 km road to retain investments in the area.

She commended the Governor for introducing the Treasury Single Account system which, she noted, would enhance ease of doing business, granting waiver for their trucks and encouraged government to continue to boost security and restated the firm’s commitment to partnering with the state government.