The future of Nigeria's economy won't be decided in Abuja alone. That was the message from President Bola Tinubu's administration on Thursday in Awka, where the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) held a workshop with Anambra State officials.
Zahrah Audu, the Director-General of PEBEC, delivered the President's message. She said the federal government is implementing one of the most ambitious economic reform programmes in recent history. The goal: unlock investments, improve competitiveness, and create opportunities for citizens.
"The future of Nigeria's economy won't be shaped in Abuja alone, but in the states, cities, industrial clusters, innovation hubs, farms and local government areas where businesses operate, and investments thrive," Audu said.
She stressed that investors base their decisions on how competitive individual states are. Regulatory efficiency, policy consistency, infrastructure, and ease of doing business remain critical factors for attracting both local and foreign investments.
The nationwide engagement tour, she explained, is designed to strengthen partnerships between the federal and state governments. It's also an opportunity to promote reforms that can unlock Nigeria's investment potential.
Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, represented by Secretary to the State Government Chiamaka Nnake, reaffirmed his administration's commitment to creating a business-friendly environment. Soludo's government has undertaken deliberate reforms to strengthen institutions, rebuild public trust, modernise infrastructure, enhance security, and digitise government operations.
Chukwukadibia Okoye, the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, described the PEBEC visit as a chance for government officials and the business community to work together on improving the ease of doing business.
Okoye explained that PEBEC, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, is visiting states across the federation to assess progress in business reforms and gather feedback on areas needing improvement. The engagement gave Anambra a platform to showcase achievements in infrastructure, governance reforms, security, and other sectors that support a conducive business environment.
"This town hall meeting is a valuable platform for engagement among governments, the private sector and development partners," Okoye said. He reaffirmed the Soludo administration's commitment to sustaining reforms that attract investment, stimulate economic growth, and improve the overall business climate in Anambra.
The workshop is part of a broader push by the Tinubu administration to devolve economic reform efforts beyond the federal capital. Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu has pursued policies including the removal of fuel subsidies and unification of exchange rates, aimed at attracting investment and stabilising the economy. The PEBEC sub-national engagement tour is one of several initiatives to ensure states are aligned with these national economic goals.