Vice President Kashim Shettima has called upon the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to strengthen its collaboration efforts and embrace technology to bolster Nigeria’s business landscape.
Speaking at the second PEBEC meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Vice President Shettima emphasized the importance of fostering closer ties among stakeholders and leveraging technological innovations from both public and private sectors to drive efficiency.
The call for enhanced synergy coincides with the commencement of PEBEC’s 90-day Regulatory Reform Accelerator Action Plan. This initiative, underscored by the commitment of the Tinubu administration, aims to implement impactful reforms in collaboration with various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by businesses, especially at entry points and in regulatory processes, Vice President Shettima highlighted the role of robust stakeholder engagement and technology adoption in addressing these bottlenecks.
The 90-day action plan focuses on eight key indicators, including updates on MDA Service Level Agreements, transparency and efficiency reforms, entry and exit processes at airports, port operations, and initiatives to facilitate exports, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President on PEBEC and Investment, emphasized the urgency and purpose behind the 90-day Accelerator, aiming to deliver measurable impacts on productivity and competitiveness across key sectors.
The kick-off of the action plan was preceded by an engagement session with PEBEC Priority MDA Reform Champions, where mechanisms for performance tracking were outlined. These mechanisms include regular performance tracking meetings and a forthcoming town hall meeting hosted by the Vice President.
The meeting witnessed the participation of various dignitaries, including representatives from the judiciary, Senate Committee on Industry, Trade and Investment, and several ministers overseeing crucial sectors of the economy.
As Nigeria navigates through challenging times, the concerted efforts of PEBEC and stakeholders signal a commitment to improving the business climate and supporting economic initiatives for sustainable growth.
