The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving Nigeria’s business environment by working closely with state governments to eliminate regulatory and operational bottlenecks affecting businesses nationwide.
The assurance was given by the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, during a town hall meeting with members of the organised private sector in Jos, Plateau State.
According to Audu, the engagement forms part of a nationwide reform drive aimed at strengthening ease-of-doing-business policies at the subnational level. She explained that PEBEC had already begun technical sessions with state-level business reform councils to identify key challenges limiting enterprise growth and investment.
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Audu stated that the Federal Government’s objective is to ensure businesses experience practical reforms beyond policy announcements by improving transparency, reducing delays, and simplifying processes across states. She noted that direct engagement with business owners would help policymakers understand the realities entrepreneurs face in different parts of the country.
The PEBEC DG added that feedback gathered from the private sector would shape reforms tailored to the economic realities of individual states. She emphasized that improving the business climate requires stronger collaboration between federal agencies, state governments, and the private sector.
According to Punch.ng As part of the reform efforts, Audu highlighted ongoing government initiatives designed to support small businesses, including tax relief measures, business registration support, and grants for nano and micro enterprises through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
The Federal Government has increasingly focused on subnational reforms through programmes such as the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), which aims to improve investment readiness, reduce bureaucratic constraints, and strengthen regulatory efficiency across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Recent ease-of-doing-business rankings released by PEBEC identified Lagos, Kaduna, Oyo, the FCT, and Ogun among the leading states implementing business-friendly reforms through improved digital processes, infrastructure, and regulatory systems.
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What You Need to Know
- PEBEC says the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to improve business operations across Nigerian states.
- The initiative includes direct engagement with private sector stakeholders and state governments.
- The reforms are part of broader efforts to reduce bottlenecks, improve transparency, and attract investment.
Implications
The renewed focus on subnational business reforms could improve investor confidence, reduce operational barriers for entrepreneurs, and strengthen economic activity across states. It may also encourage more uniform implementation of federal business policies nationwide.
Conclusion
The Federal Government’s latest engagement through PEBEC reflects a growing recognition that economic growth depends heavily on improving the practical realities of doing business at the state level. As reforms expand across Nigeria, collaboration between government and the private sector will remain critical to creating a more competitive and investment-friendly economy.
