FIC Report (Kebbi State) – The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) in collaboration the Kebbi State government held a One-Day Subnational Engagement and Technical Reform Workshop at Bola Ahmed Tinubu ultramodern Secretariat in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State on Monday the 29th day of June 2026.
Participants at theTownhall meeting and technical session of PEBEC tour to Kebbi were drawn from all Government Ministries, Agencies and the Business Community.
The one day event aimed at strengthening the Ease of Doing Business Reforms at the subnational level and fostering collaboration between the government and the private sector.
It also aimed at building confidence in the minds of investors, while it also serves as an avenue to keep the public abreast of the government’s policies and reforms towards creating enabling environment for businesses to strive.
Declaring the event open. the Director General Kebbi State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Hajiya Kudirat Diri thanked the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for the imitative and steps taken towards ease of doing business in Nigeria. She also gave kudos to the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Dr Nasir Idris Kauran Gwandu for the open door policy and for ongoing reforms in the State on the ease of doing business. she also thanked the Director General of PEBEC Princess Zarah Mustapha Audu for providing the leadership and the expertise. Lastly she assured the PEBEC team that the state is always open to new reforms of ease of doing business that will bring positive development to the state.
During her recent nationwide subnational stakeholder engagement tour to Kebbi State, Director General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, while giving the overview of PEBEC and the Nationwide Subnational Engagement Tour she focused on driving economic growth through state-level reforms and improving the ease of doing business across the subnational (Nigeria).
The Director General of PEBEC Princess Zarah Mustapha Audu focused on the following while giving an overview of PEBEC and the Nationwide Subnational Engagement Tour in Birnin Kebbi State.
1. Subnational Competitiveness: She emphasized that national competitiveness is built on state competitiveness. She stated that “investment competition is no longer between countries; it is increasing between States, Cities, and Regions”.
2. Performance-Based Accountability: She highlighted that PEBEC and the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) program hold subnational governments to higher standards. This includes transparent peer-learning, benchmarking, and showcasing indicators used in subnational rankings to encourage healthy competition among states.
3. Seamless Investment Landscape: The DG reaffirmed the Federal Government’s dedication to simplifying business strategies. She urged states to eliminate administrative bottlenecks, align with global best practices, and improve service delivery for local and international investors.
4. Private Sector Collaboration: She reiterated that reforms must be designed with the private sector rather than just for them, positioning town hall engagements as action forums for finding candid solutions to business climate challenges.
5. Digitalization and Feedback: She emphasized the vital need for state digitization, the establishment of functional business support hubs, and the use of platforms for citizens and businesses to report service delivery bottlenecks directly.
The Director General after the overview did two PowerPoint presentation where she took the participants carefully through the slides taking her time to explain the slides points to the participant.
The Director General Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) also disclosed that the Federal Government of Nigeria is targeting a one trillion dollar economy by 2030.
Fielding questions from journalists, shortly after the morning session, the Director Generai of PEBECPrincess Zarah Mustapha Audu, gave an overview of PEBEC Nationwide and State Engagement Tour. During the interview, she said that the overall aim of the tour is to improve Nigeria’s business environment.
The technical session and the town hall meeting of PEBEC in Kebbi State provide the opportunity for business community in the state to get first class information from PEBEC, participants were drawn from key government ministries and agencies such as Kebbi State regulatory agencies such as: Kebbi Investment and Promotions Agency, Kebbi Urban Development Agency, Kebbi State Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Association of Exporters, all Farmer Association, Women groups.
Other State’s agencies present are: Kebbi State Board of Internal Revenue Service, Kebbi Geographic Information Service, Coalition of CSOs, Kebbi State Ministry of digital economy,National Oinion Producers Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), Kebbi State Investment Promotion Agency (KIPA).
At the afternoon session, the panelists were carefully selected from some key government ministries and agencies,they intimated the participants who were drawn from the Private Sector, Investors, Entrepreneurs and other key stakeholders in the state on how Kebbi State government is striving to reform the state economy for members of business community and the citizens of the state.
During the questions and answers session many questions were raised by the participants. One of the questions raised was what is Kebbi State government doing to stop illegal collection of Levies and to ensure transparency in the State.
Participants expressed optimism that the ongoing reforms would enhance economic competitiveness, attract investments, and create employment opportunities across Kebbi State.
Both Sessions were concluded with group photographs.
Benjamin Yisa Audu
Senior Information Officer.
FIC, Kebbi.
29/06/2026
