Mohammed Shosanya
Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Chairman Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council,(PEBEC),Senator Kashim Shettima,has said that Nigeria’s public sector reforms achieved a collective score of over 80% at the beginning of the 90-day Regulatory Reform Accelerator
He disclosed this at the inaugural Town Hall meeting of PEBEC which held at State House, Aso Villa, Abuja on Friday.
He noted that despite a slow start, the collective commitment and actions of every Minister, Head of Agency, Reform Champion, and Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Committee Member have significantly increased reform implementation during the 30-Day extension.
According to him, the Regulatory Reform Accelerator is an avenue to inject life into the nation’s economy and renew the hope of Nigerians, urging all stakeholders, particularly the MDAs, to build on the gains of the past 120 days with a sense of urgency and purpose, such that Nigeria’s business environment can be continually improved through timely feedback, rigorous monitoring, and shared responsibility.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the long-term success of PEBEC hinges on our ability to institutionalize reform capabilities, foster deep collaboration across government, and maintain a commitment to continuous improvements. These reforms must become ingrained in the fabric of our public institutions. By doing so, we pave the way for sustained progress and lasting impact that will outlive us all, creating a better Nigeria for our children and their children afterward.
“Our conscience from this point cannot rest solely on the metrics we have designed to actualize our plans. We must be driven by the dreams of every citizen who aspires to grow their business, every citizen who looks to us for direction towards a future of prosperity.
“These are peculiar times for developing solutions to improve the Ease of Doing Business. We are not here to flow with the tide but to find the direction of the wind and understand what must be done to guide the ship of our nation to the land of opportunities. I have no doubt in your nautical skills to achieve this”, he said.
Oduwole stated that in all six ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) came tops achieving 100% compliance with the set reform activities, adding that out of 1, 187 activities across 36 Agencies, spanning 14 ministries, 876 were successfully completed.
Speaking, Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Jumoke Oduwole stated that the Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy emerged the overall best performing Ministry, while the Nigeria Customs Service is the most Improved Agency.
She listed the top performing agencies to include: “The Most Consistent Agency: Nigerian Export-Import Bank (this agency headed by Mr Abba Bello) was in the top three for 90 of the 120 days.
“Most Improved Agency: Nigeria Customs Service (Headed by Comptroller General, Adewale Adeniyi) moved from 9.7% as at
day 90 to 100% by the end of the 30 day extension.
“Most Committed with the Most Activities: Nigerian Ports Authority (Headed by Mohammed Bello-Koko) had 63 activities in total – the highest number of activities on the RRA and completed all activities with a 100% score.
“Team Consistency & Quality Delivery (Exemplary Team of BFA Committee Members): Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine
Service (NAQS) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
“The first agency to reach the 100% mark – “our first among equals” – Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (Honourable Minister Senator Abubakar Kyari)
“The overall best performing Ministry: Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy (Honourable Minister Adegboyega Oyetola) demonstrated exceptional leadership by pulling together all the heads of agencies under his ministry with a clear mandate to deliver all reforms under the ministry’s purview and they did”,she stated.