The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) says it is advancing plans to fully integrate digital systems across federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as part of efforts to eliminate bureaucratic duplication and improve Nigeria’s business environment.
The Director-General of PEBEC, Zahrah Audu, disclosed this during an interaction with journalists in Abuja, noting that the reform agenda is designed to create a more seamless, transparent and efficient public service structure for businesses and investors.
According to her, the next phase of reforms will focus on linking government agencies through secure digital platforms, allowing them to share verified data rather than repeatedly requesting the same information from citizens and companies.
Audu said the initiative is aimed at reducing delays and regulatory bottlenecks that often slow down business operations, stressing that agencies should no longer demand documents already available within government databases, such as the National Identification Number (NIN).
She revealed that 98 per cent of the 69 MDAs monitored by the council have already met required responsiveness standards following a targeted reform programme anchored on the Business Facilitation Act.
The PEBEC boss explained that the council is not taking a punitive approach but working collaboratively with institutions to close service delivery gaps and strengthen compliance.
She added that a recently concluded 90-day reform accelerator programme deployed officers across MDAs to support implementation of service improvements, which significantly boosted efficiency and responsiveness.
Audu also noted that the council is shifting focus from basic compliance to competitiveness, with the goal of positioning Nigeria as a leading business destination in Africa by reducing inefficiencies that discourage investment.
She highlighted improvements in agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, National Information Technology Development Agency, and National Pension Commission for enhancing service delivery and introducing customer-focused reforms.
According to her, inefficiency in any single government agency can negatively affect the country’s overall investment reputation, as investors often generalise their experience across the entire system.
To sustain progress, she said PEBEC would continue its quarterly mystery-shopping evaluations and use real-time performance tracking tools to monitor agency compliance and service delivery standards.
Audu added that the 2026 Business Facilitation Act Compliance Report would be released in November, following a nationwide assessment of government institutions.
She reaffirmed that the long-term goal of the council is to build a fully integrated, transparent and technology-driven public service that simplifies regulatory processes and enhances Nigeria’s competitiveness.
