Of course, the nationwide tour by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) is a commendable step toward resetting the tone of Nigeria’s economic management. PEBEC’s recent move in initiating technical sessions and town hall engagements in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), signals a shift toward a more participatory, inclusive, and people-driven approach to economic governance. But beyond the momentum of the tour itself lies a crucial imperative: these engagements must translate into business-friendly governance -practical, measurable, and consistent across the federation.
For years, Nigeria’s private sector has battled with systemic red tape, policy inconsistencies, and infrastructural hurdles that choke growth, discourage investment, and frustrate job creation. Entrepreneurs have had to navigate hostile terrains -paying multiple, unofficial fees; contending with bottlenecks in land access, registration, and licensing; and managing under a bureaucracy that often feels detached from their daily realities.
We can see that the PEBEC tour offers a chance to reverse this trend—if the insights gathered from the field are not only listened to but acted upon.
By sitting with business owners, informal traders, regulatory agencies, and state actors, we believe that the council is creating room for transparency and co-ownership of reforms. These dialogues are vital in uncovering region-specific challenges. Understandably, what hinders business in Anambra State may differ from the pressures felt in Sokoto State. We urge the federal government to recognise and tailor reforms to these peculiarities as a step to building a resilient and responsive economic structure.
We believe that what the Nigerian economy needs now is not more high-level policy memos or photo-op declarations—it needs execution. PEBEC’s state-level engagements should not be seen as the end in itself, but as foundational steps to embed a culture of service delivery within government institutions. We urge that reforms must cascade from policy headquarters in Abuja to the front desks of local regulatory offices, ensuring that the ease of doing business is not just a headline but a felt experience across markets and communities.
Critically, the council must remain transparent about the findings and feedback it receives during the tour. Publishing a reform commitment tracker—highlighting which states implement changes and how this impact business registration, tax compliance, and access to financing—will not only foster accountability but also incentivise competition among the state governments.
Nigeria’s socio-economic outlook stands to benefit immensely if PEBEC initiative is grounded in long-term reform. This is because friendlier business environment opens doors to new investments, revives struggling local enterprises, empowers MSMEs, and inspires innovation. It widens the tax net and reduces dependency on oil revenue, and strengthens the foundation of a more diversified, inclusive economy.
Moreover, institutionalising these reforms at the state level could have ripple effects on employment, education, infrastructure, and even national security. Prosperous businesses hire more workers, fund community development, and reduce the appeal of criminal activity driven by economic desperation.
We, therefore, also urge the government to seize this opportunity for what it truly is—a chance to institutionalise a new model of governance rooted in accessibility, responsiveness, and reform. The success of the tour should not be judged by the number of states visited or the applause at town halls, but by what follows: dismantled barriers, empowered entrepreneurs, and a stronger national economy. PEBEC’s engagement must spark more than conversation—it must spark transformation.
