By Umar Bayo Abdulwahab
Ilorin
Governor Abdulfah Ahmed of Kwara state yesterday announced a tax holiday for new business outfits and investors coming into the state to encourage the growth of their businesses.
He, however, clarified that existing business outfits would continue the payment of their taxes, assuring that government would continue to provide enabling environment for businesses to grow.
The governor made declaration just as the deputy governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Sarah Alade, said Kwara state had the lowest unemployment rate of 85 per cent amongst the 36 states in the country.
She urged the state government to come up with an economic blueprint that would turn around the future of the state in the next 50 years.
Both Governor Ahmed and the CBN deputy governor spoke at a lecture to mark the 50 years anniversary of creation of the state held in Ilorin where they discussed the economic future and challenges of the state.
Alade had in a paper she presented titled: “Socio-economic Development of Kwara state: An Agenda For The Future,” said taxation topped the list of 26 most problematic” factors preventing people from doing business in Kwara.
The economic expert said the factors were generated from survey conducted on 325 companies in the state.
While highlighting the potentials of the state, Alade said the state had largest Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) that should be leveraged on to turn around the economic future of the state in next 50 years.
She, however, called on the state government to address what she called “lopsided infrastructure development in Kwara central.”
