The Director General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, has stated that Nigeria is in dire need of a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

In a statement on Thursday, Zahrah explained that creating a more conducive business environment would surely attract investment to the country.

She disclosed that her outfit has concluded arrangements to embark on a nationwide tour to drive the ease of doing business reforms across all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Zahrah disclosed that the tour will feature technical sessions and town hall meetings, providing a platform for stakeholders to engage with government officials, share experiences, and propose reforms to ease business operations.

“The tour will provide an opportunity for businesses, investors, and the general public to interact with government officials, share concerns, and propose solutions to challenges hindering business growth,” she said.

She disclosed that the tour will run from the last week of this month into the middle of next month.

Inadequate infrastructure, including power supply, transportation, and logistics, still poses a significant challenge for businesses, despite the country’s rich natural resources, including oil and gas, solid minerals, and agricultural land, which offer opportunities for investment in resource-based industries.

Experts argue that frequent changes in government policies and regulations can create uncertainty for businesses, just as corruption and bureaucratic inefficiencies are known to increase costs and create unfair competition.

Additionally, they cite insecurity in certain parts of the country, as well as fluctuations in oil prices and foreign exchange rates, as key challenges businesses face in thriving in the country.