FIC Report (Bayelsa State) – The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), as part of its nationwide tour, hosted a State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) technical session and townhall meeting in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.
The event aligns closely with Governor Douye Diri’s Prosperity Agenda, which emphasizes enhancing the ease of doing business as a key driver of economic growth and private sector development in the state.
SABER, a subnational component of the Federal Government’s broader economic reform agenda, is designed to improve the business climate across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In his welcome remarks, the Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment, Hon. Ebieri Jones, PhD, expressed the administration’s full support for the SABER initiative. He noted that the ease of doing business is a core pillar of Governor Diri’s Prosperity Agenda and highlighted the state’s commitment to creating a private sector-led economy through investment-friendly policies and programs that generate jobs and promote sustainable development.
PEBEC’s Director-General, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, described the SABER initiative as a crucial platform for engaging with Nigeria’s business community—whom she called the real drivers of innovation, economic growth, and employment. She reaffirmed PEBEC’s dedication to equipping states with the data, tools, and frameworks needed to drive impactful reforms and improve business-related performance metrics.
Earlier in the session, Ms. Kris Ekanem, PEBEC’s Nationwide Tour Coordinator, welcomed participants and gave an overview of the partnership between PEBEC and SABER. She provided a detailed explanation of the Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) that underpin the SABER program.
Ms. Ekanem also revealed that the upcoming 2025 Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report will spotlight the top ten most business-friendly states in Nigeria. She announced that the SABER townhall will become an annual event across all states and outlined specific steps Bayelsa must take to improve its ranking and competitiveness as a business destination.
The event concluded with a panel discussion on reform opportunities and implementation challenges, followed by a lively Q&A session. Participants raised questions about NAFDAC approvals, seafood preservation infrastructure, designated fruit markets, and packaging innovations for export readiness.
Signed
Gloria Afure Ighovoja
PEBEC Information Officer
FIC, Bayelsa State
July 3, 2025
