BY NAOMI UZOR

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), has called on the Federal Government  to ensure efficient and effective security system that promotes business/investment climate, as well as guarantees lives and properties of the citizens.

The National President of NACCIMA, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, said that Public-Private Partnership (PPP) could be adopted through a collaboration with NACCIMA and private security agencies to achieve a lasting solution to the war against crime, terrorism and other vices currently besetting the nation.

He said the worsening state of insecurity in Nigeria, especially the sectarian violence in the North and kidnapping in the South-South and South Eastern parts of Nigeria resulting in serious threat to lives and properties, as well as resurgence of armed banditry and robberies have hampered the operations of its members in the zones.

According to him, some of the challenges being faced by the NACCIMA members is, late release of budgets; highly politicised environment in which business and economic activities are pursued, resulting in some conflicting polices/goals that affect optimal efficiency in service delivery and advocacy pursuit and inability to effectively engender closer chamber-government relation as desired in representing and lobbying for the interests of our members.

“The timing of our budgets such as crafting, submission to the legislators for discussion and subsequent signing into law by Mr. President, C-in-C, and presentation to the nation require serious attention. A neat budget should reach the president in November while every Ministry, Department, and Agency should receive their release in December to enable them start implementation in the ensuing year” he said.

Abubakar said there is need for the provision of adequate infrastructure, especially in the areas of power supply and transportation and to accelerate the completion of the on-going power sector reforms so as to improve the present generating power capacity of below 4000MW to 10,000MW by December 2014.