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By Nasir Kura
The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Wednesday night honoured Kaduna, Enugu, Lagos, Abia and Anambra states and 22 government agencies and private establishments for ease of doing business reforms in 2018.
Other recipients of the award are Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Corporate Affairs Commission, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, Court of Appeal, Nigeria Bar Association, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, National Assembly Environment RoundTable and DFiD.
Others are the World Bank, Oando Energy Resources, First Bank of Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigeria Shippers Council, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Lagos State Judiciary,
Banwo and Ighodalo, KPMG Nigeria, Procter and Gamble Nigeria and Deloitte.
Speaking at the event attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, coordinator of PEBEC and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, Ms Jumoke Oduwole, said the award was to appreciate Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and private firms for contributing to the implementation of the PEBEC mandate.
“Kaduna state improved its score from 55 to 65.97 by making it easier to start a business. Enugu state improved its score from 47 to 56.82 by making it easier to start a business, register property as well as enforce contracts in the state.
“Lagos state improved its score from 48 to 54.90 by making it easier to start a business, register property and obtain construction permits in the state. Abia state improved its score from 46 to 53.90 by making it easier to start a business and to register property in the state. Anambra state improved its score from 47 to 53.50 by making it easier to start a business and to register property in the state,” she said.
She said the reforms were aimed at reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and improve perceptions about Nigeria’s business environment.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah, said the award was a landmark in the journey of creating an enabling business environment in the country.
He said the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council was a foundation for creating a Nigeria that the citizens deserve.
Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the event, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state said he was excited over the award and was dedicating it to God and Abia people.
“I must acknowledge the dark room team the various ministries and departments and agencies that reformed and reformed quickly. This falls in line with our promotion for the Enyimba Economic City, my ambition is to make Abia the investment destination not only in Nigeria but in Africa and the only way to do this is to ensure that the ease of doing business is enhanced in Abia,” he said.
