By Samuel Solomon
Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, says the state government remains committed to providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive by aligning with the reform agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on Thursday at the technical session of the presidential enabling business environment council (PEBEC) nationwide town hall and state engagement tour, in Kaduna, Sani said his administration has pursued deliberate reforms aimed at improving transparency, strengthening institutions, simplifying government processes, promoting investment, and enhancing service delivery.
Sani, who was represented by Patience Fakai, commissioner for business, innovation, and technology, said the reforms have started yielding tangible results.
“In the most recent subnational ease of doing business assessment, Kaduna state was ranked as the second-best performing state in Nigeria,” the governor said.
“While we are proud of this achievement, we recognise that reform is a continuous journey and not a destination.
“Today’s technical workshop presents an opportunity for us to deepen our understanding of critical reform areas, including regulatory impact assessment, investor experience management, harmonisation of levies and fees, commercial dispute resolution, digital reforms, and the metrics that drive subnational competitiveness.
“The lessons and recommendations from today’s sessions will undoubtedly strengthen our reform implementation efforts and help us sustain our position as one of Nigeria’s leading investment destinations.”
Sani, however, charged participants to engage actively, share experiences openly, and take full advantage of the expertise of the PEBEC team.
On her part, Zahrah Audu, director-general of PEBEC, said the engagement showed a fundamental principle that underpins the Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
Audu noted that President Tinubu believed sustainable economic transformation can be achieved when the federal government and the states work in close partnership.
“The future of Nigeria’s economy will not be determined in Abuja alone. It will be determined in states like Kaduna—through the strength of local economies, the competitiveness of businesses, the quality of infrastructure, the effectiveness of institutions, and the confidence that investors have in the opportunities before them,” she said.
She said Kaduna possesses significant competitive advantages because of its strategic location as the gateway to northern Nigeria.
“Growing industrial base, strong educational institutions, abundant human capital, and emerging opportunities in manufacturing, logistics, technology, renewable energy, and agribusiness position it strongly as one of Nigeria’s most attractive investment destinations,” Audu stated.
‘’The state’s proximity to major markets, its rail and road connectivity, industrial estates, and commitment to business reforms provide a strong foundation for sustainable economic growth and investment attraction.”
The DG added that what remains to be done is ensuring that opportunities are packaged, communicated, and supported by an enabling environment that gives investors confidence.
