The federal government is working at entering the list of top 100 countries on the global ranking in Ease of Doing Business by 2020. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, stated this at the presentation of the ‘2018 Making Business Work Report’ of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) in Abuja. Oduwole, who is also the Secretary of PEBEC, noted that in order to achieve the goal, the country needs to move up 45 places in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index over the next two years. Nigeria is currently ranked 145 among 190 economies, according to the latest World Bank annual rating. Oduwole said PEBEC had initiated industry-wide reforms in order to ensure better public service delivery and an improved business environment for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs).

She stated: “Nigeria must improve its ranking by 45 places in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index over the next two years to achieve its goal of attaining the top 100 by 2020. Such an ambitious goal requires accelerated and focused execution of Government Executive Order and National Action Plans (NAP). “It is clear that Nigeria must now intensify its reform efforts and PEBEC will continue to work closely with the public and private sectors to institutionalise its reforms, cascade them to state level, and refine and improve the business environment.

“In the second half of 2018 and into 2019, PEBEC will focus primarily on regulators, an Omnibus Bill on business facilitation, and consolidating gains for the economy through the deepening of the sub-national Ease of Doing Business project.” The presidential aide noted that Nigeria is “bouncing back from significant macroeconomic distress” and setting an example for other African countries to emulate. According to her, PEBEC is building the capacity of the ministries, departments and agencies to foster cooperation between them and states, the national assembly and private sector.