Emefiele identifies funding, electricity supply, others as challenges to

Motolani Oseni

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, has identified access to finance and a conducive environment with constant electricity supply for uninterrupted production, as part of the biggest challenges faced by Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

The CBN Governor, however, assured entrepreneurs set to commence operations at the Edo Production Centre, of the availability of favourable financing options through the apex bank’s NIRSAL National Microfinance Bank, to complement other incentives for industrial production at the facility.

Speaking during a visit to the Centre along Sapele Road-axis of Benin City, Edo State, Emefiele, stated that the production Centre provided by the Obaseki administration, has makes it easy for the CBN to have a place to meet people who are ready to do business.

He added, “As CBN, we are trying to deal with issues of access to finance and this place provides an opportunity. On opportunities for financing for SMEs, Emefiele said although Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and microfinance institutions are set up to deal with the issues of financing, the CBN in collaboration with the Bankers’

Committee has established the National Micro Finance Bank to expand access to financing. We have set up over 20 centres for the National Micro Finance Bank (NMFB) across the country and I am sure Edo State will have a share”, Emefiele noted.

He said entrepreneurs who wish to benefit from the bank would enjoy single-digit interest loans, noting, “If you are given a loan with about 9 per cent and if you are getting constant electricity, your cost of production will certainly below and you can compete effectively, employ others and also grow the economy.”

On his part, Edo State Governor, Mr Obaseki said the Centre has helped his administration to move towards hitting the 200,000 jobs target of the state government.
He said, “We set up this hub to help us achieve our aim of creating a minimum of 200,000 jobs during the first four years in office in the civil service. We are not expected to give out the jobs in the civil service, but rather create most of them in the private sector.

So, we are providing opportunities for industrialisation. We are providing 24-hour electricity to ensure profitability, as we have eliminated initial setup cost such as cost for electricity, security, water, among others.”

Obaseki, also, assured the CBN governor that the Production Centre will be commissioned by the second week of June when the facility will be ready for business, noting, “A lot of people are interested in the facility. We have received about 200 applications from small business owners who have shown interest to own spaces at the hub.”

The Hub is a cluster for MSMEs in the state, where they will enjoy 24-hour electricity supply, share resources and other business support services aimed at boosting productivity. The cluster is to be set up in the three Senatorial Districts of the state.