Minister of Trade says Buhari will surprise Nigerians in 2017

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enalamah, yesterday, said the results of the efforts by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration will surprise Nigerians in 2017.

The minister, who was in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital spoke with newsmen at the 8th Session of the National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment.

Enalamah said the Federal government is striving to  end the current economic recession.

He said:”You will start seeing result at the end of this year and early next year. As far as I am concerned, next year is a year of results. All the work we are doing will start yielding results from this quarter.

“The level of delivery in 2017 will surprise everybody. People may be saying we are not doing anything but it is impossible for a man to start broadcasting a plan we haven’t really put together well.”

The Minister however, stated that the strategic focus of the ministry’s master plan for Diversification and Growth of the Nigerian Economy is:  “Partnering with Private and Development Capital to Leverage and Catalyze Resources for diversification and growth.” According to the Minister, ”The challenge in every economy is that of infinite demands and finite resources.

With limited resources therefore, the Diversification and Growth plan, otherwise known as the MITI Plan is based on a partnership with the private sector.”

He emphasized that based on resource constraints and low price of commodities, including oil, it is an urgent necessity to partner with the private sector so as to leverage and catalyses resources and development capital.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of the Presidential Council on Ease-of Doing Business (PEBES).

We, as Nigerians, must see the connection.   The global perception is that this country is a tough environment in which to do business.   We must change this negative perception.   Positive perceptions will attract investors, capital, technology and best practices.

Enelamah explained that already, we are seeing results of these efforts at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), a parastatal under the Ministry, with the 24-hour online registration of businesses.