President Bola Tinubu has been urged to provide business grants and ensure effective monitoring of the Renewed Hope Initiative for Small and Medium Scale Businesses to prevent sabotage by those assigned to implement it.
Speaking to our correspondent in Port Harcourt the Rivers State Chairman, National Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, NASME, Elder Dogala Sakpege said that despite the hype on the economic policies of the President, Small and Medium Scale businesses are still struggling in the country.
“If at the end of the day the ordinary Nigerian does not have food to eat, then can we say the policy is working?” The Rivers State NASME Chairman explained that President Tinubu’s two years in office cannot be rated as excellent due to the resultant effect of his policies on Nigerians.
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He further lamented the antics of the bank of industry which he noted have not complimented the President’s effort geared towards making life easier for Nigerian businesses.
“Check who has gotten loan from Bank of Industry, our members too when they mention BOI they draw back, because the same conditions commercial banks are giving is almost the same they are giving to small businesses.
“If you don’t bring C of O, they will not attend to you and at the end of the day, all the money that government gives to them to support small businesses, remember it’s called Bank of Industry, ask yourself how many industries have BOI supported in Rivers State.
“Elder Sakpege appealed to the President to focus more on local production of food and provision of adequate security for all areas of the country as this has a direct bearing with the masses.
