The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) president, Gabriel Idahosa, has called on the federal government to make policies that will support businesses in making policy decisions that promote economic growth.
Mr Idahosa made the call on Wednesday during the “Special Day” with the Dangote Group at the ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair in Lagos, with the theme, “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value.”
He noted that Nigeria needed a positive national orientation to navigate the stormy waters of policy directions.
The LCCI president urged the government to effectively communicate its plans to Nigerians and businesses for them to be sure of possible near-term achievements.
Mr Idahosa said the direction would help in building certainty to support business planning and decisions.
He noted that the Dangote Refinery, one of Africa’s “most ambitious” private sector investments and the Dangote Fertiliser Plant, the largest in the continent, were redefining Nigeria’s industrial landscape.
“Operating in Nigeria, the Dangote Group faces several challenges, including fluctuating foreign exchange rates, limited access to energy, inflationary pressures, and an evolving regulatory landscape,” Mr Idahosa said.
He said the ability to adapt and thrive in such a complex environment was a testament to Dangote Group’s operational resilience and strategic foresight.
Mr Idahosa explained that the group’s investment in self-sustaining energy sources, particularly in the fertiliser plant, was a proactive step toward reducing dependency on an unreliable national power grid.
Also, the group executive director of commercial operations at Dangote Group, Fatima Aliko-Dangote, said the firm focused on manufacturing to diversify Nigeria’s economic growth.
Ms Aliko-Dangote, represented by the director of depot and logistics, Dangote Cement, Dolapo Alli, said the theme, ‘Connecting Businesses, Creating Value,’ resonated with Dangote Group’s vision.
She said businesses needed connections at various levels, including business-to-business, distributorship, and ultimately with the final consumers.
