Bimbo Ashiru, Ogun State commissioner for commerce and industry, weekend, disclosed that the state government generated more than N472 million from the business and trade operating fees; registration and renewal of business premises; road haulage and inspection of quarry in the year 2014.
While giving the breakdown of the revenue generated through the ministry in the 2014, the commissioner said the income of N472.9 million generated mainly from road haulage, inspection of quarry, and registration and renewal of business premises was increased by N57.5 million when compared with the amount generated in 2013.
Speaking at the annual business retreat held in Abeokuta at the weekend for the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in the state, Ashiru also said six manufacturing companies were about to be opened across the state in addition to 57 manufacturing plants earlier and jointly commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
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He said over 1,000 unemployed youth graduates resident in the state had undergone entrepreneurship training and empowerment, just as over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs had been credited through the N1 billion Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) fund jointly financed by Bank of Industry (BoI) and the state government in the year under review.
He said: “From the inception of the present administration in 2011 to date, 57 companies opened shops, while other six will soon be ready for commissioning this year. And we have been able to sustain quarterly meetings with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Ogun State chapter, and we have taken 12 working visits to establishments operating in the state.”
The commissioner, however, pledged that the state government through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, would effectively exploit solid mineral resources and checkmate illegal mining activities as part of measures to increase internally-generated revenue in order to cushion the effects of dwindling federal allocations to the states and falling oil prices.
RAZAQ AYINLA
