President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to collaborating with the 36 states of the federation to reduce barriers to investment and stimulate economic growth.

The President identified several factors discouraging local and foreign investments, including policy inconsistencies, regulatory inefficiency, poor infrastructure, inaccessible institutions, lack of accountability, unresolved bureaucratic bottlenecks, and uncertainty in policy implementation.

Other challenges, he said, include the absence of an investment-friendly environment, unclear procedures, weak ease-of-doing-business frameworks, management instability, and poor business climate, all of which create uncertainty for investors.

Tinubu stated this in a goodwill message delivered at the one-day Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Nationwide Subnational Engagement and Technical Reforms Workshop on Business Enabling Reforms and Investment Competitiveness held in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The workshop was organised by the Vice President Kashim Shettima-led Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

The President’s message was delivered by the Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu.
According to Tinubu, the nationwide subnational engagement tour was designed to strengthen partnerships between the Federal Government and state governments to deepen economic competitiveness and improve Nigeria’s business environment.

He added that the initiative aims to promote targeted reforms capable of unlocking Nigeria’s vast investment potential and improving the competitiveness of businesses across the country.

The President urged states to focus on sectors where they possess comparative advantages, such as mineral resources, tourism, agricultural value chains, manufacturing, technology ecosystems, and thriving market opportunities.
According to him, investors largely make decisions based on the competitiveness of individual states.

Earlier, the Acting State Council Chairman on Ease of Doing Business and Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, said the state government had consistently implemented business-friendly reforms over the years and would sustain the momentum.

“The state government has, over the past four years, focused on improving the ease of doing business in Anambra. The vision is to make Anambra the best place to live, work, and invest,” she said.
Also speaking, the Reform Champion and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Chukwukadibia Okoye, highlighted Anambra State’s business enabling reforms and commended PEBEC for bringing the engagement tour to the state.

He assured participants that the state was ready to seamlessly align with PEBEC policies.
The commissioner listed 16 reform indicators already being implemented in the state, including access to electricity, investment in road infrastructure, technology availability, land administration, workforce development, market welfare, disaster recovery for the private sector, and credit facilitation.
“The largest room is the room for improvement after taking feedback,” he said.

Okoye also stressed that a secure environment remains critical to attracting investment, noting that the state government was not only combating crime but also addressing the social factors driving insecurity.
He further explained that the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) serves as a one-stop investment centre offering timely business registration, tax administration, and advisory support services.

In his presentation, the Reform Leader at the PEBEC Secretariat, Gabriel Ohiemi, emphasised the need for subnational governments to harmonise levies, fees, and regulatory charges to build public trust and reduce revenue leakages.
He also called for the establishment of legal frameworks to support revenue collection processes and urged states to digitise their operations to create a more predictable investment environment.

Speaking on the topic, “Access to Justice as a Vehicle for Sustainable Business Growth,” legal practitioner Barrister Ifunanya Chidi highlighted the benefits of Small Claims Courts, including speedy dispute resolution, accessibility, simplified procedures, and self-representation.

She said the courts also provide alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, reduce delays in commercial litigation, attract foreign direct investment, and support economic growth through strict timelines and summary judgment procedures.

In his remarks, the President of the Anambra State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ASACCIMA), Sir Humphrey Ngonadi, commended the reform-driven roadmap for an investment-led economy but expressed concern over the absence of traders at the workshop.

According to him, traders constitute about 80 percent of the expected beneficiaries of business reforms and investment opportunities.
He therefore called for the establishment of ASBA desk offices near major markets to improve awareness and information dissemination.

The event also featured a panel discussion on “Reform Challenges and Opportunities,” with participants including Acting Council Chairman Chiamaka Nnake, Commissioner for Lands Prof. Offornze Amucheazi, Chairman of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) Dr. Greg Ezeilo, and the Managing Director of ANSIPPA.