The Federal Government has unveiled the top 10 performing states in Nigeria’s ease of doing business ranking, with Lagos, Kaduna, Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ogun, Enugu, Plateau, Ekiti, Kano and Nasarawa leading the list.

The ranking is contained in the 2025 Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report, which shows that states implementing reforms have recorded up to 40 per cent reduction in business registration timelines, over 30 per cent improvement in land administration efficiency, and notable progress in digital service delivery and dispute resolution.

Speaking yesterday at a roundtable with members of the diplomatic community and strategic partners in Abuja, the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, said the results demonstrate that sustained reforms are producing measurable outcomes across the states.

“These achievements are not abstract metrics, they are signals to investors that Nigeria is becoming more predictable, more transparent, and more competitive,” she said.

The event, held in collaboration with the British High Commission, UKAID and other partners, focused on connecting investment capital to the country’s top-performing states.

Audu noted that while progress has been made, the key challenge is ensuring that reforms translate into practical results for investors and businesses.

As important as progress is, progress alone is not enough. The real question before us is this: can reforms translate into results? Can they deliver faster permitting processes, clearer regulatory pathways, and efficient capital deployment? Because ultimately, capital flows where certainty grows,” she said.

She explained that PEBEC is concentrating on three major areas, including improving the quality and coordination of regulations to ensure policies are practical and transparent, enhancing service delivery through platforms such as ReportGov which allows real-time feedback on business challenges, and deepening reforms at the state level where most business activities take place.

Also speaking, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, said Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy will depend largely on the role of states and the private sector.

“We feel confident that with that mindset, led by the private sector, we can create a $1 trillion economy, supported by the response that our economy has experienced to doing what is right,” he said.

Bagudu explained that Nigeria’s federal structure gives states and local governments significant authority, including the ability to enter contracts and operate their own court systems, making their actions critical to attracting investment and driving economic growth.

According to him, competition among states, supported by reforms and development programmes backed by institutions such as the World Bank, has encouraged improved economic performance across the country.

He added that Nigeria’s entrepreneurial population remains a strong advantage, noting that citizens across all states possess similar drive and capacity for innovation and hard work.

In a goodwill message, the Lagos State Commissioner in charge of the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment Mrs Folashade Bada, representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said Lagos’ position among the top performers is the result of deliberate and sustained reforms.

“Our position is not accidental. It is the outcome of sustained institutional reforms, policy discipline, and a clear recognition that capital flows where there is clarity, confidence, and continuity,” she said.

She disclosed that Lagos contributes more than 30 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and accounts for over 60 per cent of the country’s commercial and industrial activities.

Bada said the state’s long-term development strategy, anchored on the Lagos State Development Plan 2052, is designed to ensure continuity in economic transformation across different administrations.

She added that the Lagos State Industrial Policy 2025–2030, which will soon be launched, is aimed at promoting a production-driven and export-oriented economy.

According to her, reforms in land administration, construction permits and tax systems have improved transparency and reduced delays for businesses. She noted that digital platforms introduced by government agencies have made processes more efficient, with low-risk construction permits now processed within 15 working days.

She said Lagos has also invested heavily in infrastructure, including fibre-optic networks, transport systems and logistics, to support economic activities and attract investors.

Bada further explained that the state has developed a strong public-private partnership framework that ensures projects are structured to international standards, with clear risk-sharing arrangements and predictable processes for investors.

She stressed that Nigeria’s overall investment potential goes beyond any single state, noting that collaboration among reform-driven states is helping to create a more consistent and attractive business environment nationwide.

According to her, efforts by PEBEC and the Nigerian Governors Forum to harmonise regulations across states are expected to reduce fragmentation and improve investor confidence in the country. (The Nation)