The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has released its 2025 Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report, ranking Lagos as the top-performing state with a score of 85.6 percent. The report, presented by PEBEC Director-General Mrs. Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, assesses the business environment in Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) across 16 indicators and 36 sub-metrics.
Kaduna emerged as the second-best performing state with a score of 65.1 percent, followed by Oyo, the FCT, and Ogun, which scored 62.7 percent, 61 percent, and 59.9 percent, respectively. The report highlights the leading states’ consistent reform momentum, improved digital processes, and more predictable regulatory environments as key factors contributing to their high rankings.
The Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report is a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of how Nigeria’s states and the FCT are shaping business competitiveness through regulation, infrastructure, and administrative efficiency. The report identifies areas for improvement, including establishing investor aftercare systems, strengthening micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) credit enablement, and upgrading commercial justice processes.
PEBEC, established in 2016 to oversee Nigeria’s business environment interventions, aims to simplify business operations through reforms and policy enhancements. The council has also released its 2025 Business Facilitation Act Performance Report, which tracks and measures the compliance of federal government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) with the Business Facilitation Act’s requirements.
The top-performing MDAs include the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and the Nigeria Customs Service, which scored 90.6 percent, 89 percent, and 86.6 percent, respectively. PEBEC will continue to support state-led reform adoption, particularly under the $750 million State Action on Business Enabling Reforms programme.
The 2025 Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report provides a critical foundation for policy action, investment decisions, and long-term competitiveness across Nigeria. The report is available for download on the PEBEC website, offering insights for stakeholders, including investors, policymakers, and business leaders, to navigate Nigeria’s business landscape. With its findings, PEBEC aims to promote transparency, efficiency, and competitiveness in Nigeria’s business environment.