Dangote Disputes World Bank Report on Ogun State

Foremost Nigerian industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has disputed a joint International Finance Corporation and World Bank Report entitled, “Doing Business in Nigeria”. The report released in 2010 used four indicators to measure the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

These indicators included starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property and enforcing contracts. While Jigawa topped the table of ease of doing business in Nigeria this year, Gombe and Borno followed as the second and third, respectively on the ladder. Imo and Ogun states were ranked at the bottom of the table as the most difficult states to do business in Nigeria.

According to a statement released yesterday by the Dangote Group, the leading entrepreneur does not agree.

The statement said according to his own experience in the state as an investor, Ogun state is “increasingly becoming the preferred destination for investments in the real sector and is already home to many local and International brands.”

It added, “Ogun State is a major gateway to the West African sub-region with the availability of gas infrastructure and industrial enclaves (special zones and industrial parks, among others).”

He said the report was too narrow as it only focused on four aspects of investment and not the wider spectrum which includes policy and regulation.