Thirty-three States of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have signed up to the Subsidiary Loan Agreement (SLA) of the States Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme, spearheaded by the World Bank.
Under the programme, 28 states have received $68.36 million in disbursements.
The SABER Programme is a 3-year (2023-2025) US$750m Programme for Results that seeks to incentivize States to implement critical reforms aimed at improving efficiency in land administration, the regulatory framework for private investment in fiber optic deployment, services provided by investment promotion agencies and public-private partnership units, and the efficiency and transparency of government to business services in participating States.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance Mrs. Lydia Jafiya, while speaking at the 2025 National Sensitization Workshop on the SABER programmes in Abuja, disclosed that at least 28 States got between USD$1 – USD$4 million in “Prior Results.
“Your resilience to pursue these reforms despite the initial delays in take-off of the States Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme, is a testament of your commitments to the Reform Programme. It is gratifying to know that aside three (3) see h, the remaining thirty-three (33) States Federation including FCT had signed up to the Subsidiary Loan Agreement (SLA) and at least 28 States got between USD$1 – USD$4 million in Prior Results,” Mrs. Lydia Jafiya said.
She noted that the workshop, organized by Programme Coordinating Unit under Federal Ministry of Finance in collaboration with World Bank came at no better time than now to improve the level of capacity building of staff that manage SABER Programme at State level.
The Finance Permanent Secretary highlighted that a total disbursement of USD$68.36 million was recently concluded.
According to her, at present, arrangements have been concluded with Independent Verification Firm to conduct the year 2023 and 2024 performance assessment, and the lesson learned under SFTAS has assisted in improving performance with “greater transparency in business relations with government, optimized processes for land acquisition for investment, strengthened Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) processes”.
She listed other achievements to include, “strengthening collaboration between Public Private Partnership (PPP) frameworks and reduced cost of investment in fibre optic deployment to power business efficiency and effectiveness.”
Mrs Lydia Jafiya acknowledges the efforts of the World Bank for giving the nation the SABER programme and P for R, partners, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Secretariat, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and the Federal Debt Management Office (DMO) and for their efforts in bringing this vision to fruition.
“Your contribution to programme design, capacity building, technical advisory and concessionary financing is instrumental to the success recorded thus far,” she stated.
The National Programme Coordinator of SABER and Director of Home Finance, Dr. Ali Mohammed said in his welcome address that the workshop was convened to sensitize critical Stakeholders on the successes and challenges recorded in programme implementation in the last two years with a view to charting pathways to more successful programme implementation in the third year of the implementation of the SABER programme.
Dr. Mohammed stated that the earlier SFTAS programme recorded remarkable progress in entrenching transparency and accountability in fiscal governance at sub-national level with most States of the Federation holistically embracing its ideals.
He added that it was as a result of the outstanding success of the SFTAS programme that the Federal Government in collaboration with the World Bank introduced the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme.
Also, he said that these reforms would strategically position participating States for local and Foreign Investment, hence, creating more jobs and eventually, propelling the much-desired economic growth in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.
Dr. Mohammed, who coordinates the activities of the PCU, Programme Implementation Agencies, and partners including 33 States of the Federation, reiterated that the workshop aims to increase the capacity of the States to undertake the required reforms to effectively meet all Disbursement Linked Indicators/Results (DLIs/DLRs) and the Eligibility Criteria (EC).
Olusola Akintonde
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