Ota-Agbara chamber, Rimax harp on growing income via business development
As many companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), continue to shift their operating bases to Ogun state, the Otta-Agbara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OTTACIMA) has called for enhanced business development in the State.
Realizing need to fast-track industrial, economic development in Agbara-Ota, Ogun State, South west Nigeria, and the country as a whole, OTACCIMA and Rimax Group of companies recently expressed need for more attention towards development of the fast-growing industrial area as prerequisite for expected boost in earnings.
President, OTACCIMA, Engineer Mike Akingbade who recently welcomed Rimax group of companies as member of the Chamber of commerce, lauded Rimax and assured of the Chamber’s success in ongoing repositioning effort to attain greater height, which would further impact positively on performance indices of companies.
He employed other corporate in the state to affiliate with the chamber, stressing the need for Small and Medium Enterprises, (SMEs) to take advantage of the chamber’s information window, leverages and support, which the body offers, among other roles, to grow their businesses.
He describes his zone as the gateway to the Republic of Benin, Nigeria’s neighbor, saying “by being a member of his chamber, many opportunities would accrue to firms in the process”
Akingbade said that the growth of the Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product,( GDP), lies in the development of the SMEs, urging the government to come to their aid and develop roads in the area, as more companies birth in the zone.
The Chairman, Rimax Group and member OTACCIMA, Chief Livinus Okwara, said that the zone was critical to the economic growth and revival of not only Ogun state, but Nigeria as a whole, vowing to ensure the realization of the Africa Trade Centre and Recreations to be sited at Okomi, in the newly created Atan- Iju-Ota Local Council Development Area by the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
He said, the African Trade Centre and Recreations would offer millions of direct and indirect jobs, haulage activities, catering services/ facilities to meet the needs of at least two million visitors expected daily at the center.
The Rimax group Boss added that, shops, swimming pool, amusement parks; sports arenas, such as, football and wrestling; cinemas and other businesses, would also make the African Trade and Recreation Centre, the most attractive business empire in Africa.
Okwara commended Amosun for his good vision in development the state, especially in the areas of social infrastructure like, roads, education, health, rural development, among others, saying that very soon, the state would be the delight of investors, local and foreign, as well as, other categories of people, who would want to live there, make a living and contribute more to its development.
He said the development of road infrastructure in Agbara and its environs would significantly aid commerce, population movement, education and housing development, and called on the Federal and Ogun State government to partner and ensure that international and inter-regional roads, already identified, are developed in the zone.
He called on financial institutions to make loans at reduced interest rate of 3 per cent single digit interest rate to farmers, industries and other entrepreneurs, so as to develop the sectors and reduce poverty across the country.
Meanwhile, the chamber’s Vice President, Apostle Ebenezer Aina, decried poor road infrastructure in the area, adding that it was impeding commercial and social activities from growing.
Aina, a notable miner in the state, said that mining activities were facing challenges, such as, multiple taxation, operational crisis; and called on the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to address the issue.
He said that due to poor roads, operators of 30 tons’ Chinese loader have abandoned the zone, making it difficult to reach sites or evacuate mining products in their locations in the state.
