Nigeria’s Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has released a comprehensive assessment of the country’s ease of doing business reforms, highlighting underperforming federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as well as states. The evaluation, contained in the 2025 Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Performance and Subnational Ease of Doing Business Reports, reviewed 69 MDAs between January and October 2025, focusing on transparency, efficiency, responsiveness, service-level agreement compliance, and digital readiness.
The report reveals that several key agencies fell short of national expectations, with the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) ranking last with a score of just 3 percent. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) followed with 12.7 percent, despite its crucial role in digital identity and verification. Other poorly rated agencies included the Joint Tax Board, National Bureau of Statistics, Environmental Health Council of Nigeria, and Federal Produce Inspection Service.
In contrast, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) topped the 2025 rankings on Ease of Doing Business, followed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). At the subnational level, states such as Adamawa, Bauchi, and Borno lagged behind in ease of doing business reforms, while Lagos, Kaduna, and Oyo were among the top-performing states.
PEBEC’s assessment emphasizes the need for urgent reforms in underperforming agencies to address persistent inconsistencies in Nigeria’s business environment. The council stresses that public-sector reform must go beyond mere compliance, highlighting its importance for boosting investor confidence, improving government efficiency, and supporting sustainable economic growth. With Nigeria seeking to improve its business climate, the report’s findings are likely to inform policy decisions and guide efforts to enhance the country’s competitiveness.
