By Amina Samuel Kaduna
Kaduna State has reinforced its position as one of Nigeria’s most reform-driven subnational governments, emerging as the second-best performing state in the 2025 Subnational Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Report released by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
According to the report, Kaduna achieved a score of 65.1%, reflecting significant progress in areas such as infrastructure quality, digital connectivity, land administration, power reliability, skilled labour readiness, taxation, trade logistics, and commercial justice.
The report assessed states across 16 indicators and 36 sub-metrics, highlighting best practices and areas for immediate improvement. Among the top five, Lagos State led with 85.6%, followed by Kaduna, with Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Ogun completing the ranking with 62.7%, 61.0%, and 59.9% respectively.
Speaking on the ranking, the Honourable Commissioner of Information, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, quoted Governor Uba Sani as describing the achievement as a “testament to Kaduna State’s commitment to creating a transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly environment.” The Governor reportedly commended the state’s agencies for their dedication to implementing reforms that have positioned Kaduna as a leading destination for business and economic growth.
PEBEC also identified five priority reforms for states, including establishing investor aftercare systems, enhancing MSME credit access, harmonising interstate trade rules, upgrading commercial justice systems, and improving electricity reliability in industrial clusters—reforms that align closely with Kaduna’s ongoing business-enabling initiatives.
The Council described the 2025 reports as vital tools for guiding policy decisions, attracting investments, and boosting long-term economic competitiveness, particularly through the $750 million State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme.
Established in July 2016 and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, PEBEC continues to drive reforms aimed at removing bureaucratic barriers and strengthening Nigeria’s business climate.
Kaduna’s ranking underscores the state’s commitment to sustained reform, economic growth, and the creation of an enabling environment for investors.
