These states are Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
Also, 10 out of the 24 states failed to attract foreign investments in the last three years.
The states are Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
Manufacturers blame insecurity
The Chairman, Infrastructure Committee of MAN, Ibrahim Usman, said that aside from the COVID-19 pandemic that affected a number of companies abroad, there was the issue of insecurity plaguing the country.
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He said, “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of the companies that invest abroad have been affected by the pandemic. That is a major cause. Secondly, the insecurity in the nation has continued to go unabated. Nobody wants to invest in a country where there is so much insecurity. Investments thrive only where there is peace and security.”
Issue of foreign exchange, policy somersault make investment in Nigeria risky – MAN
Usman also said that the lack of stable power supply is affecting the productive sector, which is meant to attract foreign investments.
“Also, the availability of electricity is directly related to the advancement in terms of investments. People normally invest in the productive sector. The productive sector cannot operate without adequate reliable, affordable electricity. That’s another major cause. We haven’t made the stride we are supposed to have in terms of electricity supply. The Nigerian electricity supply industry is still at the lowest point,” Usman said.
He added that there was also the issue of foreign exchange and lack of consistent policies, which had made investing in the country highly risky.
Usman added, “Also, there is the issue of foreign exchange. A lot of times we do policy somersault. The government can suddenly come up with a new policy that discourages investors. There must be consistency in policymaking because investors plan 10-20 years ahead, and sudden changing policies can affect their investments.”
Exchange rate affecting business – LCCI
Also, the Deputy President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gabriel Idahosa, identified three factors responsible for the steady decline in Nigeria’s FDI.
According to him, the major factor is the unpredictability of Nigeria’s foreign exchange market and the devaluation of the naira.
He explained that foreign investors were sceptical of investing in Nigeria because the value of their returns would have declined in the future due to the naira devaluation.
“Since 1990, the value of the naira has been on the decline and projection in the near future is not showing any significant difference,” he said.
Idahosa, who is a chartered accountant, noted that investors were also reluctant to invest in a country where the cost of doing business is high. He explained that the high cost of electricity in Nigeria, inefficient port and rail systems were undoing Nigeria and its quest for FDI.
“Also, our Company Income Tax is among the highest in the world. Most countries have 15-16 per cent of thereabout, but ours is 32.5 per cent. Most investors are going to places where taxes are low and moving to countries where governments are looking at the number of jobs created rather than high taxes,” Idahosa noted.
He urged the Nigerian government to address these challenges urgently to drive FDI into Nigeria.
Also speaking to The PUNCH, the Managing Director of Cowry Asset Management Limited, Johnson Chukwu, said that investors were looking for countries with economic and political stability, and good economic growth.
According to him, the country experienced contracted growth due to the pandemic and is also battling insecurity, which has been discouraging foreign investments.
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Chukwu said, “Foreign Direct Investments go into countries with very good investment climate. Among those things that foreign investors are looking for are economic and political stability. They are also looking at the growth of the economy. Prior to last year, the economy contracted in 2020. Although it grew by 3.4 per cent last year, investors were looking at a contraction in 2020.
“Secondly, we see a situation where the level of insecurity is high in the country. This discourages foreign investors.”
The Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, stressed the need for better reforms to strengthen investors’ interest.
He also emphasised the need to address the issue of insecurity plaguing the country.
PUNCH