Question

(10 marks) 1. Looking at Nigeria as a potential emerging market, mention and explain 4 factors you think are preventing Nigeria from becoming an excellent emerging market to invest in? 2. If you were given the chance, resources and power to change Nigeria, which one out of the 4 problems identified above would you try to solve and how would you do it?

Answer 1

Answer:

1. Political instability

2. High cost of taxation

3. Insecurity

4. Changes in law and policy

Explanation:

1A. Political instability. The uncertainty regarding political decisions is one of the major threat to foreign investment in Nigeria. Where there are daily crises in terms of political events, such will scare away potential investors. Moreover, if government changes regulations guiding businesses or do not enforce such changes, it may cut down the returns that should ordinary be made by the investors hence discourage them from making further investment.

1B. High cost of taxation. Emerging economies such as Nigeria imposes too many taxes on local and foreign investors who have their companies situated there. For instance, the federal government through Federal lnland Revenue services is saddled with the responsibility of collecting various types of taxes such as company income tax, withholding taxes etc. Moreover, state governments also levy taxes on these companies for situating and carrying out business transactions in their state.

1C. Insecurity. The prevalence insecurity in the North East discourages investors from investing in Nigeria. The country has to grapple with the daily threat posed by these terrorist. Again, the activities of these terrorist group including the dreaded bandits and local militants have claimed and destroyed lots of lives and properties over the years. Due to their constant and continuous activities, Nigeria has been included among terrorist nations hence scares investors away from coming to invest in the country because no one would want his or her investments to be destroyed.

1D. Changes in law and policy. Emerging countries such as Nigeria is used to changing laws regulating businesses constantly. Most of these changes come through variation of existing contracts such as using executive powers(circulars, administrative orders,directives etc). The continuous changes in law and policy is capable of discouraging investors from investing in the country.

2. If I have the resources to change any of the above, I would change political instability. The reason is that a country that is not stable politically cannot attract foreign investment. I would try as much possible to bring together all the political players in the country by asking them to ignore their political differences hence work towards common good of the country.