Three South-West states make FG’s top 10 ease of doing business list
The Federal Government has identified three South-West states — Lagos, Oyo and Ogun — among the top performers in Nigeria’s latest ease of doing business ranking. Other states on the list include Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Enugu, Plateau, Ekiti, Kano and Nasarawa.
The ranking, contained in the 2025 Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report, indicates that reform-focused states have significantly improved their business environments, cutting registration timelines by as much as 40 per cent and enhancing land administration efficiency by over 30 per cent.
Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, disclosed the findings on Friday at a roundtable with members of the diplomatic community and development partners in Abuja. She said the progress reflects tangible outcomes from sustained reforms across the states.
“These achievements are not abstract metrics; they signal to investors that Nigeria is becoming more predictable, transparent and competitive,” Audu said, while noting that the next challenge is ensuring that reforms translate into real benefits for businesses.
The event, organised in collaboration with the British High Commission and UKAID, focused on linking investment capital to high-performing states and strengthening investor confidence.
Audu explained that PEBEC is prioritising improved regulatory coordination, enhanced service delivery through platforms such as ReportGov, and deeper reforms at the subnational level where most business activities occur.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, said Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy will depend largely on the performance of states and the private sector, given their critical roles in driving investment and economic growth.
He noted that increased competition among states, supported by reforms and development programmes backed by institutions like the World Bank, has improved economic performance nationwide, while Nigeria’s entrepreneurial population remains a major advantage.
