By
Hamza Alkali
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on state governments to accelerate business enabling reforms to fully harness the opportunities provided by the 750 million dollar State Action on Business Enabling Reforms, SABER, Programme supported by the World Bank.
He made the call during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Presidential villa, Abuja.
The Vice President said effectiveimplementation of the programme would attract investment, lower the cost of doing business, improve infrastructure and create jobs.
Shettima directed the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, Princess Zarah Audu, to initiate steps towards extending the programme by one year to enable states maximise its benefits.
The Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Doris Uzoka-Anite, urged stakeholders to address implementation challenges to ensure the programme delivers its objectives in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She expressed confidence that states would fully access the intervention funds by meeting the programme’s requirements.
In her presentation, the Director-General,
PEBEC Princess Zarah Audu, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks and improving the business environment.
She noted that participating states were making steady progress in meeting the programme’s performance indicators, assuring stakeholders that PEBEC would continue working with government institutions, the private sector and civil society to achieve the programme’s goals.
Cov-Hamza Alkali
