The Federal Government, through the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, has announced the launch of its much-anticipated Subnational Tour.
The initiative, set to begin on 12th November in Katsina State, is designed to strengthen the Ease of Doing Business reforms at the state level, involving key collaborations between government bodies, the private sector, and international partners.
According to a statement issued by the Project Manager of the PEBEC Secretariat, Aimeya Okpebholo, on Wednesday, the tour will run from 12th to 14th November and will feature a variety of activities, including town hall sessions, technical workshops, private sector engagement meetings, and an exhibition for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“This tour aligns with PEBEC’s goals to improve Nigeria’s business climate, foster trust and transparency between businesses and regulators, and enhance the perception of the ease of doing business in Nigeria,” the statement read.
Okpebholo highlighted the importance of these engagements in creating a more conducive environment for business growth.
“The PEBEC Subnational Tour is specifically tailored towards deepening the Ease of Doing Business reforms at the subnational (state) level through strategic engagements with state governments, the private sector, regulatory agencies, international partners, and the business community,” it added.
The tour, which will first take place in Katsina, will bring together stakeholders from six states in Nigeria’s North-West region: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
“The North-West edition of the PEBEC Subnational Tour will bring together government and private sector participants from Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara to the host state, Katsina, the home of hospitality,” the statement added.
The manager noted that the event aims to create direct channels of communication between state governments, sector-specific regulators, and entrepreneurs, thereby addressing bureaucratic obstacles and improving service delivery.
The sessions are expected to provide actionable insights into making business operations smoother and more transparent across the states.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Okpebholo emphasised that it offers a unique opportunity for MSMEs, large companies, and entrepreneurs to interact directly with key government officials.
“The PEBEC Subnational Tour is an opportunity for MSMEs, large companies, and entrepreneurs in the North-West region to directly engage with state governments and sector-specific regulators,” the statement noted.
The PEBEC Subnational Tour forms part of the broader mandate of PEBEC, which was established in 2016 to oversee the federal government’s interventions in Nigeria’s business environment.
To date, PEBEC has implemented over 190 reforms aimed at tackling bureaucratic inefficiencies and improving the country’s business climate.
“The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council was established in July 2016 by the Federal Government to oversee Nigeria’s business environment interventions, with the dual mandate of removing bureaucratic and legislative constraints to doing business and improving the perception of the ease of doing business in Nigeria,” the statement added.