The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and other stakeholders have lauded the unveiling of a business premises registration portal by the Ogun State Government as part of efforts to improve the ease of doing business in the state.

The state government said the registration would be free till the end of the year, adding that it had waived permit backlogs.

The Governor, Mr Dapo Abiodun, said these during the launch of the portal held virtually and at Ogun TechHub, Abeokuta, according to a statement.

He said the launch was a result of the reforms and digitisation initiatives by the state government aimed at creating enabling environment for businesses in the state.

Abiodun, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Mr Dapo Okubadejo, said the portal would allow for proper planning towards infrastructure, security, power and environmental management as well as the provision of other relevant facilities for businesses.

He said, “In the past, business Permit registration had hitherto been done manually. But when the Business Environment Council-established Technical Working Group on ‘Starting a Business’ started work, in line with our digitisation initiative, we decided that this registration process must be automated.

“The automation process has been tested. This portal is very interactive.”

Abiodun enjoined all categories of businesses operating in the state to register their business on the portal for free till the last day of the year, adding that the government has also waived all backlogs on business premises permit registration in the state.

He said the government would harmonise its taxes with legal backing and improve the enforcement of its tax laws to eliminate illegal tax collection in the state.

In their separate remarks, the State Chairman, MAN, Mr Seleem Adegunwa; the National President Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, Dr Femi Egbesola, and the State Chairman, Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Dr Akinwunmi Alonge, commended the government for developing the portal.

They also hailed the decision of the government to make the registration free, saying they would mobilise their members to register on the platform.