NAN-H-45
Law
By Sylvester Thompson
Abuja, Jan. 5, 2018 (NAN) Mr Anthony Agbonlahor, a legal practitioner in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has called for strict compliance to rule of law to grow the nation’s economy.
Agbonlahor made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.
He said that one of the fastest ways for the country’s economy to “ bounce back’’ was for the government and people to comply with the rule of law.
According to him, the rule of law is the genesis of development.
“If we start obeying the law, the economic difficulties we are currently facing will disappear without policies,’ he said.
Agbonlahor, who is the Principal Partner, Anthony Agbonlahor and Associates said that the benefits of the rule of law were innumerable, including attraction of foreign investments.
According to him, investors make countries grow and foreign investments will never be beneficial to the developing nations without their laws being in full effect.
“In developed democracies, the rule of law is the fulcrum upon which all other activities are hinged.
“One of the benefits of such full compliance is in the area of infrastructure. It will enable investors to come in and invest in the country,’’ he said.
He said that this was because law governs and guides the principles of foreign investors and their businesses in the country.
The lawyer observed however that there was no strict adherence to the rule of law in the country compared to other advanced democracies where law regulates businesses.
“The absence rule of law is responsible for the skepticism of foreign investors coming to invest fully in the country,’’ he said.
Agbonlahor expressed optimism that the country would eventually reach its peak in terms of economic progress if it complied and adhered to the rule of law.
He said that foreign investors were waiting to observe adherence to the rule of law by the citizenry before they would invest in the country.
“Anytime Nigeria and Nigerians comply fully with the law, we will begin to have influx of investors into this nation.
“It is the absence of the full operation of the rule of law that has driven away investors from the country,’’ he said.
The legal practitioner said the country would be a haven for investors when the government and citizenry comply and respect the law.
On how the rule of law can be complied with, Agbonlahor said, “court orders and rulings should be obeyed and not flouted’’.
“When the law reigns supreme everything will go into perspective,” he said. (NAN)
SET/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf