As part of efforts to remove burden involved in Business Premises registration and improve the Ease of Doing Business, the Ogun State Government has launched Business Premises Registration Portal just as it has also commenced free registration of businesses on the Portal till December 31, 2021.

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun while speaking during the virtual launch at Ogun TechHub, Kobape Road, Abeokuta, said it became imperative due to formulation of different reforms and digitisation of business registration process.

Represented by the Chairman, State Business Environment Council, who doubles as the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, Governor Abiodun disclosed that the Business Premises Registration Portal would serve as an avenue to plan for infrastructure, security, power, management of the environment and other facilities for businesses to thrive in the State.

"In the past, Business Permit Registration had hitherto been done manually, but when the Business Environment Council established the Technical Working Group on 'Starting a Business started work, in line with our digitisation initiative, we decided that this registration process must be automated. Thereafter, the process had been tested and the Portal was found interactive", Abiodun said.

The Governor enjoined all categories of business operators in the State to register their businesses on the portal for free via businesspermit.ogunstate.gov.ng adding that government had waived all backlog on Business Premises Permit Registration in the State.

He added that the government would harmonise its taxes with legal backing, as well as increase on enforcement of the tax laws to eliminate illegal collection in the State.

In her welcome address, Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe said with the launch of the Portal, the State business registration process would be fully automated, easier and reduce cost, saying, "the State can be ranked number one on the Starting a Business Index of the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Ranking which is scheduled for 2022".

 On her part, the State Head of Service, Alhaja Selimot Ottun called on Business Membership Organisations in the State to sensitise their members to ensure they take advantage of the free registration window given by the government.

In their separate remarks, the State Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Seleem Adegunwa, National President Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Dr. Femi Egbesola and State Chairman, Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Dr. Akinwunmi Alonge lauded the government for developing the Portal alongside the free registration, assuring that they would mobilise their members to register on the platform.

Other dignitaries at the launch include, Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, Special Adviser and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Remi Ogunmefun and Ms. Sola Arobieke respectively, Director-General, Bureau of Lands and Survey, Mr. Aina Salami, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola.