Lagos State and nine other states have emerged as top performers in Nigeria's 2025 Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report. The states, which include Kaduna, Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory, Ogun, Enugu, Plateau, Ekiti, Kano, and Nasarawa, were ranked at a roundtable event in Abuja on March 27. The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) released the report, which shows that states implementing reforms have made significant improvements in the business environment.
These improvements include a 40 per cent reduction in business registration timelines and over 30 per cent improvement in land administration efficiency. PEBEC also noted notable progress in digital service delivery and dispute resolution. The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, shared a statement from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who attributed the ranking to deliberate efforts by his administration to attract and sustain investments.
Sanwo-Olu stated that the ranking is a result of his government's efforts to create a positive environment for investments, both local and foreign. He expressed his commitment to pushing for more investments and making Lagos a business-friendly place. The Director-General of PEBEC, Zahrah Audu, highlighted that the report's outcome demonstrates sustained reforms across states yielding tangible results.
Audu noted that the real test lies in translating reforms into practical outcomes for businesses. She emphasized that progress alone is not enough, and the real question is whether reforms can deliver faster permitting processes, clearer regulatory pathways, and efficient capital deployment.
Lagos State's Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu deserves credit for his administration's efforts to create a business-friendly environment, but the real test lies in translating these efforts into tangible outcomes for everyday Nigerians. The state's ranking is a result of sustained institutional reforms and policy consistency, but what does this mean for the average citizen? The state's performance in reducing business registration timelines and improving land administration efficiency is commendable, but what about the informal sector, which still faces significant challenges? The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, emphasized the importance of the private sector in achieving Nigeria's ambition to build a $1 trillion economy. However, this ambition will only be realized if the benefits of these reforms trickle down to the people, not just the wealthy investors.
