Shettima urges states to maximise $750m World Bank reform programme

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged state governments to accelerate reforms needed to unlock the full benefits of the $750 million World Bank-supported State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme. Speaking on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ meeting on the implementation of the programme at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Shettima said effective execution of SABER would help create a more predictable and transparent business environment, attract investments, and drive economic growth at the subnational level. He noted that the programme would boost private-sector confidence, reduce the cost of doing business, expand digital and physical infrastructure, improve access to land and commercial justice systems, and enhance the competitiveness of states. He said these gains would stimulate economic activity, create jobs, increase productivity, raise internally generated revenue and improve living standards. To enable states to fully benefit from the initiative, the Vice President directed the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zarah Mustapha-Audu, to begin the process of extending the programme by an additional year. Shettima said optimising SABER implementation would support Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy and stressed that the success of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms depends largely on creating a conducive business environment across the states. He urged stakeholders to engage constructively and take advantage of the programme to position states as drivers of investment, growth and sustainable development. Earlier, the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, called for efforts to address implementation challenges and ensure the programme delivers its intended outcomes in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.