PEBEC Intensifies Push to Make Nigeria Easier for Business Under New Leadership

November 14, 2026
Joshuasmith Ezekiel

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council is deepening its work to cut bureaucratic delays and improve the day-to-day experience of doing business in Nigeria.

Chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Council is currently led by Director-General Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu as it drives implementation of key reforms across federal agencies and the states.

PEBEC’s core mandate remains the removal of obstacles that slow down or raise the cost of starting and running a business.

Under the current administration, the focus has sharpened on four main areas: enforcing the Business Facilitation Act, monitoring the performance of government agencies, expanding reforms at the state level, and accelerating the digital connection of government services.

Business Facilitation Act as the Legal Backbone

The Business Facilitation Act serves as the primary legal tool that binds Ministries, Departments and Agencies to clearer and faster service delivery. The law requires agencies to publish transparent service timelines and procedures so that businesses know exactly what to expect and how long processes should take.

It also mandates prompt responses to enquiries from companies and the public. Compliance is tracked through regular assessments, public performance reports, mystery shopping exercises and live trackers. The goal is higher responsiveness rates across the agencies that businesses interact with most frequently.

By putting these requirements into law and backing them with public monitoring, PEBEC aims to reduce the uncertainty and delays that many entrepreneurs still face when dealing with government offices.

Digital Integration and Regulatory Streamlining

A major part of the current effort is the push to simplify rules and connect government systems digitally. PEBEC is reviewing licensing, permit and documentation requirements across agencies to remove obsolete or repetitive processes that force businesses to submit the same information multiple times.

The Council is promoting seamless digital services so that registration, permits, visas and related processes become faster and less fragmented.

Alongside this, it is introducing and encouraging the use of a Regulatory Impact Assessment Framework.

The framework is designed to test how new regulations will affect businesses before they are fully rolled out, helping to avoid rules that create unnecessary burdens.

These digital and streamlining steps are intended to lower both the time and the cost of compliance for companies of all sizes.

Expanding Reforms to the States

Recognising that many day-to-day business interactions happen at the state level, PEBEC is placing strong emphasis on subnational reforms. The State Action on Business Enabling Reforms programme continues to guide state governments in improving their business environments.

An annual ranking of states on ease of doing business performance provides a public benchmark and encourages healthy competition. The Council is also promoting the establishment and effective functioning of Ease of Doing Business Councils in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Priority areas at the subnational level include better investor aftercare, stronger support for micro, small and medium enterprises, improvements in commercial justice, and greater harmonisation of rules that affect interstate trade.

Inter-Agency Coordination and Accountability

PEBEC works closely with operational agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service and the ports authority on practical issues including joint inspections, risk-based clearance systems and efforts to reduce cargo dwell times.

Regular engagement with existing investors through roundtables helps surface real operational bottlenecks and track progress on solutions.

To sustain momentum, the Council recognises and awards top-performing Ministries, Departments, Agencies and states.

This public recognition is intended to reinforce positive behaviour and keep reform efforts visible.

Overall Direction

Under the leadership of Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, PEBEC’s approach centres on measurable compliance, deeper digital integration, stronger coordination between agencies, and wider reach into the states.

The overarching goal is a more predictable, transparent and efficient regulatory environment.

For Nigerian entrepreneurs and investors, the practical test remains whether these reforms translate into shorter timelines, fewer repetitive demands and lower costs when dealing with government.

PEBEC’s current work is designed to move the system steadily in that direction while supporting Nigeria’s broader competitiveness and investment objectives.

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