BusinessDay 07 Nov 2017

Tuesday 07 November 2017
Lagos to experience
God like never before,
says Bonnke
… calls for spiritual revival
SEYI JOHN SALAU
As the farewell
Gospel Crusade
of the German
evangelist, Reinhard
Bonnke, commences
tomorrow, November 8,
participants have been told
to expect God’s work in a
way like never before.
Bonnke, founder, Christ
for All Nation (CfaN), in a
statement, calls for spiritual
revival amongst christians
just as he urges them to believe
the gospel. “The gospel
is true today because it was
true at the beginning. I believe
with all my heart we’re
going to see in Lagos this
week what we have never
seen before,” he said.
According to Bonnke, the
ripple effects of the farewell
gospel crusade will be felt
across the world because
God is ahead of the ministry
in deciding to use Lagos, Nigeria
as a contact point for
other African countries. “I
have not seen in other African
countries what God has
done here, Nigeria is my
preferred place,” he stated.
The 77 years old evangelist,
who is calling time off
his missionary tour across
the world due to his age,
however said he is committed
to other works of
the ministry in the United
States for the rest of the
year. “I will continue to
preach as the Lord helps
me,” Bonnke said.
Nevertheless, Bonnke
in response to questions
on the up and low moment
of his 35 years ministration
to Africa opined that he
never measures the effect
of the success or failure
while he ministers across
the world. “The Holy Spirit
comes in full strength not
in percentages. I will never
measure effects of success,
or failure,” he stated.
John Darku, DG, CfaN
in his welcome remarks
said he believes God has a
reason for asking Bonnke
to come to Nigeria for the
farewell gospel crusade
instead of his own home
country of Ghana.
However, Alexander
Bamgbola, Chairman,
Central Working Committee
(CWC) for the Farewell
Gospel Crusade said
prayers has been going
on for the forthcoming
crusade, and believes God
has already answered those
prayers. “We are so excited
over the forthcoming crusade,
and heaven can feel
the excitement,” he concludes.
The crusade scheduled
to hold on Wednesday 8
November to Sunday 12
November beside the Sparklight
Estate, opposite OPIC
Events Centre, Isheri, after
Berger Bus Stop along the
Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
C002D5556
BUSINESS DAY
A7
NEWS
Ease of doing business: Nigeria must do more, Elumelu insists
TONY AILEMEN
Recent gains recorded
by the country on the
‘Ease of Doing Business’
rating notwithstanding,
the country needs to
do more if it must continue to
attract both local and foreign
investors.
Chairman, Heirs Holdings,
Tony Elumelu, while
assessing the recent World
Bank rating that put Nigeria
as one of 10 most improved
nations on the ease of doing
business scale, commended
the giant strides recorded by
the country.
The business mogul said
Nigeria needs to enter into tax
treaties with other countries
so that local investors who go
out to invest in other countries
are not subjected to double
taxation, and the need to pay
attention to the rule of law.
Speaking after a private
meeting with the Chief of
Staff to the President at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja Elumelu
also said the country
must streamline tax policies,
avoid double taxation and
guarantee rule of law, as well
as pay more attention to infrastructure
development if the
country must move further
up on the ease of doing business
rating.
“Everything that is done
is good, but I think we need
to streamline our taxes; avoid
multiple taxation. We need
to have double taxation treaties
with other countries so
that Nigerian investors who
go out to invest don’t pay
double taxes and those who
come here to invest don’t pay
multiple taxes”
“I think it’s good to make
sure that our infrastructure
works. I think the rule of law
is extremely important, strong
governance, contract accessibility,
sanctity of contracts,
property rights. These are
things that drive where investors
go to invest”
He commended the Central
Bank of Nigeria for addressing
the foreign exchange
challenges adding that “ It was
very high but now it’s predictable;
it’s available, so to speak
for in market is improving”
Nigeria’s recent rating by
the World Bank has received
commendations from the organized
business community,
including top government
officials and leaders of the
National Assembly.
Elumelu who said he was
very impressed with what is
happening in our country,
said the ease of doing business
ranking by the World
Bank that moved Nigeria up
in 24 places was very impressive,
“ not just that and as top
ten reforming country in the
world”
“Counting Nigeria as one
of the top ten reforming countries
in the world is very impressive.
So, I think things are
getting better. I think we’re
turning corners and things are
getting better”
The rating has been seen
as a major plus in the country’s
efforts to create employment,
while attracting global
investors to Nigeria, especially
as investors see the country as
a safe place to invest.
“ Global investors are looking
for a place where the rule
of law is strong; a place where
there is sanctity of contracts;
a place where tax reforms
regime is good will come to
invest in Nigeria.” he said.