By Akeem Abas
Ibadan – The Oyo/Osun Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has lauded Oyo State Government on the planned inauguration of a one-stop investment centre aimed at improving the state’s investment profile.
Mr Abiola Adewuyi, the Deputy Comptroller, Revenue/APM, Customs Processing Centre, NCS, Oyo/Osun Command, made the commendation at a meeting in Ibadan on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was facilitated by Oyo State Bureau of Investment Promotion (BIP) in preparation for the inauguration of the one-stop investment centre.
The state government, had through the bureau, requested the secondment of a liaison officer from NCS to the centre.
NAN reports that the one-stop investment centre is aimed at ensuring easier documentation and establishment of businesses.
Adewuyi said that the establishment of the centre toward industrialisation was the best thing that could happen to any state.
He said that industrialisation was not an exclusive preserve of any nation, but depended the tenacity of the people.
“With this move by Oyo State, I think Nigeria will soon get there if other states emulate the feat. It is realisable and the Customs is in consonance with this reality.
“This is in line with the policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Government is promoting exportation to make the growth of the economy more sustainable,’’ he said.
Adewuyi said that the NCS was interested in states becoming self-sustaining and industrialised, adding that the service was interested in local production.
He pledged the commitment of the NCS to checking smuggling, saying that “smuggling is an activity of the lazy.”
“The core mandate of the NCS are collection of revenue, suppression of smuggling and facilitation of trade. NCS has employed the electronic operation system to clear hiccups attached to the operations.
“We are ready to support the government in realizing the feat. We will second our officer to give the centre the necessary support,’’ he said.
Earlier, Mr Yinka Fatoki, the Executive Secretary of BIP, had said that Gov. Abiola Ajimobi had mandated the establishment of a fully operational one-stop investment centre at the Oyo State Secretariat.
He said that the centre would be inaugurated by the governor on Oct. 1.
Fatoki said that the centre would provide information on processing, registration, land acquisition and establishment of businesses.
He said that the essence was also to clear the hiccups ecountered in business registration by prospective entrepreneurs, institutions or firms.
“All the effort is to make Oyo State a prepared destination of investment. It is also an effort to encourage industrialisation and entrepreneurship.’’
NAN reports that the state government, had some months ago, flagged off the Pacesetter-Polaris Free Trade Zone and Transformation Industrial Park along the Ibadan-Lagos expressway.
The state government said it was expecting no fewer than 157 investors in the state out of which some had already began work at their sites. (NAN)