The automated Ogun State Business Premises Permit which is one of the digital reforms initiated by the Prince Dapo Abiodun's administration under the $250miilion World Bank Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), has made it seamless for business operators to start and complete the process of registration of their respective businesses in the state
The reform has also eliminated red tapes, duplicity of taxes and extortion of business owners.
The State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe made this known in Ota during a stakeholders Engagement and Training Programme on the automation policy for business operators in Ogun West Senatorial District, organized by the State government in partnership with the German Agency for Development GIZ.
The event is the third in the series after the programme was held in Ijebu-Ode for Ogun East Senatorial District and in Abeokuta for Ogun Central Senatorial District to enlighten business operators on the process and benefits of registering their Business Premises via the portal businesspermit.ogunstate.gov.ng.
Longe represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Industry,Ms. Sola Arobieke, said the present administration had on September 1, 2021 launched the BPP portal to remove the bureaucratic bottlenecks, ease the process and improve investors’ experience
She added that business owners could now register for their Business Premises Permit within minutes from the comfort of their Offices instead of 18 days when it was done manually.
The Commissioner said the Business Premises Permit is backed by law adding that the automation reform has now addressed the past concerns of business owners on exploitation or extortion because the reform has now made the process transparent and fair to all.
“The present administration is truly concerned about improving the experience of business owners in Ogun State. That is why the government automated the Business Premises Permit registration to ease the process and protect businesses from any fear of exploitation or any form of bureaucratic bottlenecks. This initiative is in the best interest of business owners.”, she stated
Reacting to a request for the manual process to be continued, Longe urged stakeholders to own the automation process and align with global best practices, assuring that the Ministry would provide relevant technical support that would respond to requests in a timely way.
Earlier in his welcome address, the State Co-ordinator, GIZ, Mr. Stephen Dada said the agency has partnered the Ministry to help train business operators on the Business Premises Permit Portal as well as other areas on development of MSMEs stressing that Officers have been adequately trained to provide necessary technical support to entrepreneurs registering on the portal.
Commending the present administration for the digital reform on the Business Premises Permit, Human Resource Support Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Sango-Ota, Mr. Ayoola Johnson, said “the automation reform has made it easy to register for our permit without any stress. I believe Ogun state is stepping forward. Government has done its own part businesses have to do their part by login on to the portal”.
Also speaking on the BPP digital reform, General Services Manager, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr. Goddy Okoebor said, “I am looking forward to making payment for Business Premises Permit through this digital platform. Anybody who is scared of embracing this digital platform does not appreciate the benefit of digitalization.”
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