In order to ensure safety, the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to install landing systems in all federal airports.

In a motion by Hon. Ogariwey Enwo, airlines operate in low visibility conditions in the country, putting passengers at risk.

This is in line with the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for repair of its dilapidated runways.

While the Kaduna Airport which is, the alternative airport has come back to life with activities, some airlines have resumed flight operations at the Airport.

Also, preparations are in top gear as airlines and aviation workers are making final arrangements to ensure a smooth operation.

Minister says Government committed to promoting ease of doing business

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s ranking in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index.

The Minister, made the pledge when he received Jumoke Oduwole, the Coordinator and Secretary to the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) on a courtesy visit to his office.

He lauded the various initiatives being implemented by the Council to move Nigeria 20 steps upwards in the index.

According to him, the government is working to improve Nigeria’s ranking adding that the current ranking of 169 out of 190 countries is unacceptable.

“It’s unsatisfactory that today we are ranked 169 out of 190. That is not very good and the things that we don’t take seriously, like a file staying for 14 days on somebody’s desk, add to this poor ranking.

People don’t seem to appreciate how the poor attitude to work impacts negatively on the image of Nigeria and the ease of doing business. This is what this Council has been working on since last year and I am proud to say that this Council has been working slowly and steadily but they are actually achieving results,” he said.

The Minister, who is also a member of PEBEC, said one priority area for by the Council is to prune the number of agencies operating at the air and sea ports from 15 to 6 to make it possible for people to clear their goods within 24 or 48 hours.

He said the government has also made significant improvement in easing the bureaucracy associated with the registration of companies, which can now be done online within a short time.

The Minister also spoke on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic being organised by the Council across the states of the federation, which aims at addressing the challenges confronting the MSMEs on the spot.

Oduwole on her part said the 2017 priority areas for business reform include Starting a Business, Getting Credit, Trading Across the Border, Paying Taxes, Construction Permits and Registering Property.

She said three areas prioritised based on engagement with the private sector are Entry and Exit of Goods, Entry and Exit of People and Government Transparency.

“The Visa-on-Arrival Programme has been updated to include e-submission. Before people had to go to the Immigration Office to submit in person so that the Comptroller General of Immigration could give his assent, but now you can submit and they are also a dedicated desk and you don’t have to go physically anymore.”

She also disclosed that 11 bills are currently before the National Assembly, which will tremendously enhance the ease of doing business in Nigeria when they are eventually enacted into law. (TV 360 Nigeria)

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