The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, has implored state governments to accelerate business-enabling reforms to unlock the full potential of the $750 million World Bank-assisted State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme. He said this has become necessary to attract domestic and global capital, enhance local infrastructure, and drive subnational economic growth.

Speaking on Tuesday during a stakeholder meeting on optimising the implementation of the SABER programme at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Senator Shettima noted that a fully implemented SABER programme would help create a more predictable and transparent business environment. He also highlighted benefits such as attracting investment, strengthening private-sector confidence, reducing the cost of doing business, expanding infrastructure, improving access to land and commercial justice systems, and enhancing state competitiveness.

The Vice President directed the Director General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zarah Mustapha-Audu, to begin moves to extend the lifespan of the programme by one year so that states can fully utilise the opportunities available. He also stressed that Nigeria’s drive towards a one trillion-dollar economy depends on effective implementation of the SABER programme at the subnational level.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, urged stakeholders to address implementation bottlenecks to ensure the programme delivers its intended outcomes under the Renewed Hope Agenda. The Director-General of PEBEC reaffirmed commitment to removing bureaucratic constraints and working with all stakeholders to ensure states meet disbursement-linked indicators for full access to the $750 million intervention.