The Katsina State Government and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) have joined forces to accelerate business-friendly reforms aimed at attracting investment and fostering economic growth across the north-western Nigerian state.
At a technical session and town-hall meeting held in Katsina on Thursday, senior government officials, private sector leaders, and development stakeholders convened to discuss strategies to improve the ease of doing business under the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) framework.
Representing Governor Dikko Radda, Deputy Governor Faruk Jobe reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to streamlining regulatory processes and providing targeted support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“The State has made significant progress in implementing actionable and revolving business reforms,” Jobe said, highlighting initiatives such as the waiving of Right of Way (RoW) charges for fibre optic deployment, and interest-free loans for SMEs.
PEBEC Director-General Zahrah Audu, speaking via televised address, underlined the council’s ongoing sub-national tour aimed at strengthening state-level ownership of business reforms. She noted that PEBEC, a World Bank-backed initiative, collaborates closely with state governments to entrench sustainable economic development across Nigeria.
In a welcome address, Director-General of the Katsina State Investment Promotion Agency, Ibrahim Tukur-Jikamshi, praised the state’s progress. “Governor Radda has embraced the SABER framework not just as a compliance checklist, but as a strategic tool for transformation and economic inclusion,” he said.
The government’s proactive steps include the establishment of a high-powered reforms implementation committee and the creation of the Katsina Enterprises Development Agency to support nano and small businesses.
Officials say the reforms are already yielding results, with increased investor interest and a more transparent regulatory environment. Katsina now requires all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to publish service timelines and fees to improve accountability and public trust.
