The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced that it is set to host yet another edition of private sector interaction with governorship candidates in Lagos State.

According to the chamber, the interaction is aimed at providing a platform for the governorship candidates to discuss their manifestoes and programmes for private sector development in the state.

LCCI said in a statement on Wednesday, that the event is scheduled to hold on Friday, January 11, in Lagos.

The Director-General, LCCI, Mr Muda Yusuf was quoted as saying, “The economy of Lagos is strategic to the national economy since Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria. The economic and business agenda of the governorship candidates is therefore of strategic importance to investors not just in Lagos, but in the whole country.

“It is therefore important for private sector stakeholders in Lagos to have an insight into the thinking of the candidates on the trajectory for the Lagos economy.

“The business community cannot continue to be passive in the political and electoral process. The reality is that the quality of economic policies is impacted by the quality of political governance. It is the economic policies that determine the prosperity or otherwise of our businesses.

“It is the economic policies that will determine how equitable the society will be and the capacity of the economy to create jobs. It is the social and economic policies that will determine the degree of social justice that we experience as a people. For these and other reasons, we need to play a more active role in influencing the choice of political leaders at all levels of government.”

According to Yusuf, the state needs political leadership that will build institutions and promote policies that are supportive of investment.

He said, “We need to position the private sector as a true engine of growth. We need to develop an economy that rewards hard work, creativity, innovation, wealth creation and entrepreneurship. We need to do away with structures and policies that allow rent-seeking opportunities to flourish. These are the kinds of political and economic environment that investors desire.” – Punch

– Jan. 3, 2019 @ 16:05 GMT |