Anambra State has declared its ambition to clinch the number one spot in Nigeria’s SABER (State Action on Business Enabling Reforms) rankings by 2025, positioning itself as a national leader in business-friendly governance.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo, in a statement delivered at a statewide town hall meeting, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making Anambra the most business-enabling state in the country.
“We must move with the times,” Soludo said, reflecting on the evolving nature of Nigeria’s economy and the need to adapt traditional commercial centers like Onitsha to new realities. “Our business environment must evolve, and we are fully open to evaluation and improvement.”
The declaration came during a high-level SABER technical session and town hall hosted in Awka, which brought together key stakeholders from across Nigeria.
The event, held at the International Conference Center, was part of a national engagement tour led by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to assess reform progress, promote dialogue, and accelerate the ease of doing business across Nigeria’s subnational governments.
Representing the governor, Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim described the town hall as a strategic opportunity to review Anambra’s progress and reaffirm its reform agenda. “Anambra is structured to partner across government and private sectors to foster a truly enabling business environment,” he said.
The SABER initiative, a $750 million performance-based program supported by the Federal Ministry of Finance, World Bank, PEBEC, and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, incentivizes reform-focused states with disbursement-linked results (DLRs) from 2023 to 2025. It is designed to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, enhance transparency, and drive inclusive private sector growth.
‘Game Changer’
PEBEC reform leader Mr. Gabriel Ohiemi, who led the federal delegation, commended Anambra’s strides in land digitisation through the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), calling it a “game-changer” in reducing land fraud and improving transparency.
He also praised the leadership of PEBEC Director General, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, for spearheading subnational engagement efforts.
In her virtual remarks, Audu emphasised that “reforms must be felt at the grassroots,” adding that SABER offers states an unprecedented opportunity to deepen systemic reforms and access results-based funding.
“Anambra, which ranked 7th nationally and 1st in the Southeast in the most recent PEBEC business environment assessment, is not resting on its laurels.
“We’ve made commendable strides, but we are not complacent. Our goal is first place,” Governor Soludo said.
Unlock Private Sector Potential
Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, who also serves as the state’s Ease of Doing Business Champion, highlighted that while the public sector controls only 26% of Anambra’s GDP, the administration’s infrastructure and digital reforms are unlocking immense private sector potential.
Supporting this, Commissioner for Industry, Mr. Christian Udechukwu, pointed to impactful SME programs, including ₦50,000 micro-grants issued through the Bank of Industry. “Our partnership with the federal government has empowered countless small businesses,” he said.
In breakout sessions, Anambra’s Commissioner for Lands, Prof. Offornze Amucheazi (SAN), stressed the importance of community involvement in land management and investor relations.
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, announced that the state has approved the creation of the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission and investment in solar energy, aimed at improving power supply for businesses and reducing emissions.
With a reform strategy grounded in digital innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and measurable outcomes, Anambra is steadily positioning itself as a model state under the SABER initiative and as a benchmark for business-friendly governance in Nigeria, he added.
Hauwa Abu