By Maryam Gulma Abubakar in Lokoja.
Kogi State has become the first in Nigeria to document and launch an Ease of Doing Business Handbook, aimed at improving its investment climate and removing bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo disclosed this on Friday at the opening ceremony of a technical session and statewide town hall meeting organized by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) in collaboration with the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER).
The event held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Lokoja.
Represented by his Chief Economic Adviser and SABER Focal Person, Alhaji Aliyu Inda Salami, Governor Ododo said the initiative underscores Kogi’s commitment to enhancing business growth and creating a conducive environment for investors.
Presenting the state’s Ease of Doing Business Handbook, Salami said the document was developed after extensive consultations with relevant federal and state agencies to align local business policies with national frameworks.
“The idea is to bring positive policies to the grassroots and ensure that business reforms are not just on paper but are truly impactful for all stakeholders,” he said.
PEBEC, an initiative of the Federal Government in collaboration with the World Bank, Federal Ministry of Finance, Debt Management Office, and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, seeks to eliminate bottlenecks in doing business and stimulate economic growth. SABER serves as its domesticated version at the sub national level.
The Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zarah Mustapha Audu, who is currently on a nationwide tour, lauded Kogi State for being the only state out of the 12 visited so far to produce a comprehensive Ease of Doing Business Roadmap.
“This shows a high level of commitment and seriousness from the Kogi State Government in simplifying business procedures and removing bureaucratic obstacles,” she said.
She, however, noted that Kogi had scored only 4 out of the 12 performance indicators under the SABER framework and urged the state to improve in critical areas. She added that SABER offers access to a $750 million fund to states that meet the reform benchmarks.
Kogi’s strategic location, sharing boundaries with 11 states, gives it a unique advantage in trade, investment, and logistics.
With the right reforms, the state can significantly boost its competitiveness,” she said, pledging to provide technical support to ensure Kogi maximizes the opportunities under SABER, according to her.
Some of the key achievements recorded by Kogi State under SABER include;dogital archiving and indexing of all Certificates of Occupancy under the Kogi State Land Bureau.and adoption and implementation of a framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA).
Others are:rstablishment of a grievance redress mechanism across key MDAs, including the Ministry of Commerce, Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, Utility Management Agency, and the Investment Promotion and PPP Agency, review of Right of Way permit fees from ₦5,000 per linear meter to ₦145 per linear meter, development lof a Public-Private Partnership Disclosure Framework among others
Alhaji Mohammed Mukhtar, Kogi State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, who also spoke at the event,reiterated the government’s commitment to sustaining the momentum of reforms that make the state more business-friendly.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
