Lokoja, Nigeria – The Kogi State Government in Nigeria is intensifying efforts to implement reforms under a $750 million World Bank-backed programme aimed at improving the ease of doing business across the country’s 36 states. This initiative, known as the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), is designed to enhance investment readiness and promote a more business-friendly environment nationwide.
Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo highlighted the state’s commitment while hosting a strategic technical session and town hall meeting in collaboration with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) on Friday, June 27, 2025. Represented by his Chief Economic Adviser and Kogi State SABER Focal Person, Aliyu Inda Salami, Governor Ododo stated that key reforms already underway in Kogi include
land administration, commerce, investment promotion, agriculture, and a legal framework to facilitate access to credit for businesses. He described the session as an opportunity to assess progress and strengthen collaboration among implementing agencies, with an eye towards unlocking critical development funding.
Challenges and Opportunities for States
Princess Zahrah Audu, Director General of PEBEC, commended Kogi State’s commitment but urged intensified efforts to meet the required benchmarks. She revealed that
Kogi currently meets four out of the twelve reform milestones required under the SABER programme. However, a one-year extension granted to the programme provides a crucial window for the state to improve its compliance.
Princess Zahrah identified priority actions for Kogi, including establishing a functional grievance redress mechanism, issuing an executive order for collaboration among five key government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), creating small claims courts, and consistently publishing monthly business-related statistics.
She underscored that SABER funding is strictly performance-based. Of the total $750 million available,
only $70.9 million has been accessed nationally, representing less than 10 percent, primarily due to poor milestone compliance across many states. Princess Zahrah reaffirmed PEBEC’s commitment to supporting Kogi’s reform efforts, pledging technical guidance and hands-on support. She emphasised Kogi’s strategic location and rich human and natural resources, suggesting that with the right reforms, it could become a leading investment destination in Nigeria’s North Central region.
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