By Maureen Agbala
Anambra State has received high commendation from the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) for its strides in infrastructural development and reforms enhancing the ease of doing business, particularly through the digitalisation of land management systems under the National Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
The commendation came during a technical session and state-wide town hall meeting on State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Awka, on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Gabriel Ohiemi, leader of the PEBEC delegation, applauded Anambra for aligning its development goals with the national drive to improve the business climate. He noted that the state’s progress in digitising access to land through GNIS marks a significant step in combating long-standing challenges such as land grabbing and fraud.
“Anambra is on the right trajectory. The GNIS initiative is key to transparency and accessibility in land ownership, and Anambra is embracing that,” Ohiemi noted.
He emphasized that PEBEC was established by the Federal Government to eliminate administrative bottlenecks and enhance the ease of starting and growing a business in Nigeria. According to Ohiemi, the town hall engagement in Anambra is part of the Council’s efforts to promote the $750 million SABER reform incentive programme, a World Bank-supported initiative in collaboration with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Debt Management Office, and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
“The fund is performance-based. States that deepen and implement reforms effectively are certified and then granted access to the funds. So far, less than 10% has been disbursed. The more reforms you implement, the more access you gain,” he said.
Ohiemi also reiterated the commitment of PEBEC Director, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, to ensuring states align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda of creating a business-friendly environment across the nation.
Declaring the event open, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, welcomed the PEBEC team and thanked stakeholders present. He described the engagement as a valuable independent assessment that complements the state’s ongoing development efforts.
“We are intentionally structured to lead, and this partnership reinforces our progress. Our vision is to make Anambra the number one State in Nigeria for doing business,” Soludo said.
He added that the state government has engaged all arms of government—executive, legislative, and judiciary, as well as private sector leaders to create a robust economic ecosystem.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Chiamaka Nnake, underscored the significance of the ongoing nationwide engagement by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, noting that the initiative is aimed at gathering direct input from business communities to further improve the ease of doing business across Nigeria.
Speaking during the stakeholders’ session, Nnake explained that the federal government’s outreach is part of a deliberate effort to understand local business challenges and identify practical solutions. She added that Governor Soludo had earlier initiated similar consultations within the state, demonstrating a shared commitment to creating a more business-friendly environment.
According to her, the current PEBEC-led programme reinforces the fact that many of Anambra State’s initiatives, particularly in infrastructure and policy reform, are purposefully designed to uplift residents and support enterprise. She emphasized that strategic road construction across the state is not just about connectivity, but a calculated move to reduce the logistical burden on businesses and enhance mobility for economic growth.
Nnake also commended the strong collaboration between the federal and state government, which she said has enabled Anambra to undertake critical development projects. Notably, she said that the federal government granted the state authority to independently implement power sector reforms and embark on the construction of the vital Truck A Road, both of which are expected to significantly boost local productivity and investment potential.
The Commissioner for Industry, Christian Udechukwu, praised the collaboration between the state and the federal government. He noted that Anambra has benefitted from several federal interventions, including small grants of ₦50,000 under MSME support schemes through the Bank of Industry and other platforms.
“We are working in harmony with the federal government. The level of collaboration and support from the federal government has been remarkable. For the SMEs, there have been federal government interventions, also intervention funds from the Bank of Industry, besides funds for medium and large scale industry. It is our hope that this programme will harmonise state and federal policies for more effective development delivery.”
The SABER town hall meeting in Anambra marks another milestone in the state’s pursuit of becoming a hub for investment, innovation, and inclusive economic growth. With sustained reforms and a strong partnership between state and federal institutions, Anambra appears poised to climb even higher on Nigeria’s ease-of-doing-business index.
Maureen is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
