………N3bn infrastructure fund yields over N200m, business reform portal billed for October launch.
FIC REPORT (NASARAWA STATE) – Nasarawa State Government has revealed that, it has recently received another $17 Million US Dollars support from World Bank through the Nasarawa State Enabling Business Environment Council (NEBEC) Reforms Programme, restated his administration’s commitment to transparency in the management of funds accruing toState through the Nasarawa Enabling Business Environment Council (NEBEC). The Governor disclosed that, the state has so far received three tranches of support from the World Bank, including 17 million US dollars this year.
He this known while chairing a meeting of the Nasarawa Enabling Business Environment Council (NEBEC) held at the Government House, Lafia Thursday 10th September, 2026.
Governor Sule while given an overview of the support received through the reforms so far, explained that, the state received over 6 million US dollars in the first tranche of the Programme, followed by 11 million US dollars in 2025, and 17 million US dollars this year, adding that funds from the current year’s allocation remain untouched, as the state continues to spend from the previous tranche.
“We are going to look at what has been spent, like what is actually received for this year, nothing has been touched, we are still spending part of what we received last year,” as he described the ongoing transition period is the reason for caution in how new allocations are committed.
Governor Sule described the openness in handling the affairs of the council as central to the state’s continued eligibility for World Bank support. “The reason why we allow press to cover this is because of the transparency aspect of feedback,” he said, urging council members to speak freely on the issues before them.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency, NASIDA, Ibrahim Abdullahi, gave an update on the state’s infrastructure fund, disclosing that the Governor and the State Executive Council had earlier approved 3 billion Naira for the fund.
He said part of the fund, invested in the money market through Pan African Capital, has so far yielded over 200 million Naira, while 1 billion Naira from the fund has been committed as the state’s equity contribution to the ongoing Karu Recreational and Resort Centre project.
The MD also pointed out that the Executive Council had approved the opening of a Project Preparation and Facilitation Fund, describing it as part of the state’s commitment under the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms programme to set aside resources for preparing and facilitating projects with clear economic impact.
He said the state’s One-Stop Investment Centre grievance redress portal, an online extension of the centre’s services, will be formally relaunched by the Governor in the first week of October, a date that coincides with Nasarawa State’s 30th anniversary.
On revenue collection, Executive Chairman, Nasarawa State Board of Internal Revenue Services, Ibrahim Sarki, who was represented at the meeting, reported that produce and haulage levies are now collected strictly at designated loading and offloading points using point-of-sale devices, following engagement with transporters and consultants.
“For now, all our collections as it relates to produce and haulage are done in the designated centre, transporters and everybody is enjoying our street now,” Sarki told the meeting, adding that illegal roadside collections have been brought to zero.
The meeting also reviewed a set of reforms to be delivered under the state’s 2026 business enabling reforms programme, including a new regulation on systematic land tenure registration to be handled by the Nasarawa Geographic Information Systems agency, a consolidated tax demand notice to be issued jointly by the state and local governments through the Nasarawa State Internal Revenue Service, and a formal arrangement for the revenue service to collect taxes on behalf of local government councils.
The Secretary to the State Government, Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, SAN, commended the level of diligence and openness guiding the process, and urged council members to sustain the state’s standing in national business reform rankings as the administration approaches transition. “State will not lose out when you exit from office,” he told the Governor, describing the reforms as a legacy to be inherited by the incoming administration.
On the second phase of the meeting, Governor Abdullahi Suledisclosed that his administration has set aside additional 5 billion Naira to equipt the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) Akwanga, as part of a wider list of projects executed, ongoing and proposed under the state’s business environment reform funding.
The Governor said the fund for DASH Akwanga is intended to complete the equipping of the facility, ensuring it is fully functional for residents of Akwanga and neighbouring communities.
Also before the council was a proposal for the construction of a one-kilometre road linking the Abdullahi Adamu Housing Estate to the New Tomatoes Market in Lafia, a route officials said would ease access and support commercial activity around the market.
The Governor said projects under the reform Programme are considered on the basis of resources available to the state at any given time, noting that decisions taken by the council are meant to be clear, practical and immediately actionable by the relevant ministries, departments and agencies.
“I trust that this meeting will produce clear, practical and actionable decisions, and the relevant MDAs will take ownership of the agreed decisions that are going to be taken today, to ensure their timely implementation,” he said.
Governor Sule directed that further details on project costs and locations be worked out with the relevant agencies before implementation begins, and reiterated that transparency in the process remains central to the state’s continued access to World Bank support under the business enabling reforms programme.
He said the proposals, including the DASH Akwanga equipping fund and the Lafia road project, will be presented to the State Executive Council for consideration and approval before implementation.
On projects already delivered, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), Ibrahim Abdullahi, reported that the state’s One-Stop Investment Centre has been built and delivered, and that its grievance redress portal, an online version of the centre’s services, will be formally relaunched by the Governor in the first week of October, to coincide with Nasarawa State’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
He also disclosed that 1 billion Naira from the state’s infrastructure fund has already been committed as the state’s equity contribution to the ongoing Karu Recreational and Resort Centre project, while the balance of the fund remains invested in the money market, yielding returns of over 200 million Naira so far.
Princess Margret Elayo, Commissioner for Environment, proposed the establishment of a small reference and resource centre within NASIDA’s offices in Karu, where members of the public and prospective investors could access materials on how to set up and run businesses in the state, an idea the Governor described as worth pursuing without requiring a standalone facility.
The meeting is part of the Nasarawa Enabling Business Environment Council’s continuing work to improve the state’s investment climate and deliver targeted infrastructure to residents.
The meeting forms part of the continuing work of the Nasarawa Enabling Business Environment Council to improve the state’s investment climate through transparent, accountable processes.
Solomon Mundung
E0 Information & PRO
Edited By
ARI, LIMAN AMINU.
Head of Centre
FIC, Lafia.
