By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
A presidential aspirant on the platform of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has pledged to reduce the cost of doing business and prioritise job creation if elected, following a meeting with young entrepreneurs in Abuja.
The engagement, which held at his campaign office on Wednesday in Abuja, is part of ongoing consultations with key stakeholders aimed at addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges and strengthening support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Hayatu-Deen campaign office in a statement, reported that the meeting comes amid rising economic pressures across the country, including inflation, insecurity, high energy costs, and currency instability, all of which have significantly impacted the business environment.
Speaking during the session, Hayatu-Deen emphasised the critical role of SMEs in driving Nigeria’s economy, noting that they account for the majority of jobs and sustain millions of households.
He said discussions with the entrepreneurs revealed a shared concern over escalating operational costs and shrinking profit margins.
“The message from these young entrepreneurs was clear. The cost of doing business is rising faster than their ability to grow. From energy to transportation and raw materials, everything is becoming more expensive, while profits continue to decline,” he said.
Drawing from his experience in supporting business growth, the former chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group noted that while Nigerian entrepreneurs possess resilience and innovation, they are being constrained by an unfavourable operating environment.
According to him, his economic vision is focused on building a productive system that supports enterprise, restores investor confidence, and creates sustainable opportunities.
Hayatu-Deen identified insecurity as a major barrier to economic growth, stressing that businesses cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
He added that his administration would prioritise reforms in key areas such as energy supply, infrastructure, taxation, access to finance, and regulatory efficiency to ease the burden on businesses.
“Our SMEs should be building, hiring, innovating, and expanding, not merely struggling to survive. Nigeria cannot achieve prosperity while businesses are weighed down by rising costs and insecurity,” he stated.
The presidential hopeful said his continued engagement with entrepreneurs, professionals, and other stakeholders would shape policies aimed at building a more resilient and inclusive economy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
