From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
As part of effort to attract more Investors to Jigawa, the State Government has promised to create more enabling Business environment to improve its ranking in Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business as the state hosted the 2026 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Nationwide Sub-National Engagement and Technical Reform Workshop in Dutse.
The high-level engagement, held at Mtown Hotel on June 4, brought together government officials, private sector operators, development partners, regulators and investment promotion experts to deliberate on strategies for strengthening the state’s investment climate and accelerating economic growth.
The workshop was divided into two major segments: a technical reform session and a private sector stakeholders’ engagement forum aimed at identifying challenges affecting businesses and formulating practical solutions.
Chairman of the Jigawa State Ease of Doing Business Council and Deputy Governor, Engineer Aminu Usman Gumel, who declared the event open, described the PEBEC national tour as a commendable initiative that demonstrates the Federal Government’s determination to ensure business environment reforms are implemented effectively at both national and sub-national levels.
According to him, the initiative provides a unique platform for direct interaction between policymakers and business operators, enabling stakeholders to share practical experiences, identify regulatory bottlenecks and recommend reforms capable of improving the ease of doing business and attracting investments.
“The experiences of investors, manufacturers, traders, farmers, service providers and entrepreneurs are critical in shaping policies that promote enterprise growth, competitiveness and sustainable economic development,” he said.
The Deputy Governor stressed that the private sector remains the engine of economic growth, noting that while government creates policies and infrastructure, businesses create jobs, stimulate innovation, expand markets and drive wealth creation.
He identified transparent regulations, efficient government services, accessible infrastructure, investment security, ease of obtaining permits, access to finance and effective dispute resolution mechanisms as key ingredients for a thriving business environment.
Engineer Gumel disclosed that the state government was dissatisfied with its most recent Ease of Doing Business assessment and was determined to address identified gaps through fresh reforms and stronger stakeholder engagement.
He noted that several reforms already implemented by the administration of Governor Umar Namadi were not adequately captured during the assessment process.
Among the reforms highlighted was the establishment of Small Claims Courts across the state’s emirate councils to provide speedy, affordable and efficient mechanisms for resolving commercial disputes involving small businesses.
The Deputy Governor further stated that Jigawa has remained committed to implementing reforms aimed at improving the investment climate through infrastructure expansion, agricultural value chain development, support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), promotion of digital governance and enhancement of public-private sector collaboration.
He urged participants to use the engagement as an opportunity to openly discuss challenges affecting business operations and provide actionable recommendations capable of informing future policy reforms.
In a keynote address delivered virtually, Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, who chairs the council.
She emphasized that Nigeria’s economic transformation can only be achieved when all tiers of government work together to create a seamless investment landscape.
According to her, strengthening sub-national competitiveness has become imperative because investors ultimately invest in states rather than countries.
“While investors may enter a country, they eventually invest in states where policies are clear, infrastructure is improving, institutions are responsive and opportunities are visible,” she stated.
Princess Audu noted that global competition for investment is increasingly taking place among states, cities and regions, making it necessary for state governments to identify and promote their unique competitive advantages.
She advised states to focus on sectors where they possess genuine strengths rather than attempting to market every available opportunity.
“The challenge is not a lack of opportunities but proper positioning. States must make deliberate choices, remove barriers to growth and communicate those opportunities consistently to investors,” she added.
The PEBEC boss also stressed the importance of digital visibility, noting that most investment decisions begin online.
She urged state governments to develop strong digital footprints, improve investment promotion
