Osinbajo lauds Aba artisans, says FG’ll remove bottlenecks militating against SMEs


ACTING President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has described Aba, the commercial city of Abia State as “easily the manufacturing and smallscale business centre of Nigeria”, saying that the Federal Government would do everything possible to encourage small business operators in the country.

Consequently, Prof. Osinbajo said the Federal Government was committed to removing all bottlenecks militating against the growth of small and medium scale enterprises in the country.

Osinbajo, who spoke yesterday, in Aba, while launching Federal Government’s nationwide Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Clinic, in Abia State, noted that artisans in Aba are showcasing the real creativity which Nigerians are known for.

According to him, “When I was small and people when would say made in Aba, I never believed it but it has manifested today and the nation is in true need of them.”

He said that the diversification crusade being canvassed by the Federal Government would only be achieved through the encouragement of locally manufactured products.

The Acting President said that the process of diversification of the economy could successfully be realized through improved locally manufactured goods and services.

Osinbajo, who took time to inspect various goods and services made by the SMEs in Aba, commended the creativity of the Aba business community, adding that the Federal Government would continue to reduce pains being experienced by manufacturers in the country.

He explained that the essence of the clinic was to bring together the SMEs and agencies of government who would assist them in growing their businesses.

Prof. Osinbajo used the occasion to admonish government agencies like NAFDAC, SON, among others that their aim was not to kill or scare away the SMEs but to assist them to grow.

Earlier in his speech, Abia state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, explained that artisans in Aba are enterprising and need the support of the Federal Government to thrive in the area of registration of businesses and incentives to encourage growth.

Ikpeazu promised to grant the request for land by any Federal Government agency seeking to build offices in the state.