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The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has published new evaluations highlighting various federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as some states, for their inadequate performance in Nigeria’s ease of doing business reforms.

The findings were detailed in the recently released Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Performance and Subnational Ease of Doing Business Reports, which assessed the quality of public service delivery nationwide.

According to PEBEC, the 2025 BFA report represents the most thorough evaluation since the Act was enacted, reviewing 69 MDAs from January to October 2025. The assessment concentrated on transparency, efficiency, responsiveness, compliance with service-level agreements (SLA), and digital readiness.

The report indicated that several crucial agencies fell significantly short of national expectations. The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) received the lowest score at just 3 percent, marking the weakest performance among all 69 MDAs. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) followed with a score of 12.7 percent, despite its critical role in digital identity and verification.

Other agencies that received low ratings included the Joint Tax Board (14.6 percent), the National Bureau of Statistics (14.9 percent), the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (14.5 percent), and the Federal Produce Inspection Service (16 percent). Additionally, the Nigerian Postal Service (17.1 percent) and the Ministry of Interior (19.5 percent) were also among the lowest performers.

Previously, a report by DAILY POST indicated that the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) led the 2025 rankings for Ease of Doing Business. It was followed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

At the subnational level, PEBEC identified Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Ondo, Osun, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara as states that are falling behind in ease of doing business reforms.

The states that performed best during the review period were Lagos, Kaduna, Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ogun, Enugu, Plateau, Ekiti, Kano, and Nasarawa.

PEBEC cautioned that without prompt reforms in underperforming agencies, Nigeria may continue to experience persistent inconsistencies in its business environment.

The council emphasized that public-sector reforms must extend beyond mere compliance, describing them as vital for enhancing investor confidence, improving government efficiency, and fostering sustainable economic growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the PEBEC assessments?

The PEBEC assessments aim to evaluate the performance of federal MDAs and states in implementing reforms to improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

Which agency had the lowest performance score?

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) had the lowest performance score, achieving only 3 percent.

What states are considered top performers in ease of doing business?

The top-performing states include Lagos, Kaduna, Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ogun, Enugu, Plateau, Ekiti, Kano, and Nasarawa.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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