The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has stated that Nigeria has slowly progressed to 131 positions from 146 among 190 countries in the ‘Ease Of Doing Business’ index.

Otti disclosed this yesterday while inaugurating the state Ease Of Doing Business Council (EDBC), which he described as a strategic move to sustain the gains recorded on the ease of doing business in the state.

The Information and Culture Commissioner, Prince Okey Kanu, told The Guardian, after the weekly Executive Council Meeting, that the governor tasked the EDBC with the responsibility of ensuring that the state has a business-friendly environment that would accelerate economic development of the state. The Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu was designated as the Chairman of the council.

According to him, Otti noted that Abia was founded on business, and that about 80 per cent of the population are involved in one business or the other; hence, the need to make the state a business-friendly environment.

He argued that this underscored the importance of putting in place and ensuring a very business friendly environment for Abia people first, and then others who want to invest in the state, including foreign investors.

The governor also said that although Nigeria has made progress in its ranking on the ease of doing business, the progress has been slow from number 146 out of 190 countries in 2018 to its current 131 ranking.

He said: “This shows that we are still struggling as a country, considering that 130 other countries are ahead of us.

This, in practical terms, means that investors, who are looking for where to invest their money, will consider 130 other countries before remembering us.”

Responding on behalf of the council members, the Chairman, who is the Deputy Governor promised that they will put in their best to make the state the right destination for investment.