The Kogi State Government has stepped up reforms under the $750 million World Bank-backed SABER programme, aimed at improving the ease of doing business across Nigeria’s 36 states.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed that Governor Ahmed Ododo made this known during a one-day strategic technical session and statewide town hall meeting in Lokoja. The event was held in partnership with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
Representing the governor, the Chief Economic Adviser and Kogi State SABER Focal Person, Aliyu Salami, explained that the meeting focused on the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms—an initiative designed to improve investment readiness and foster a more business-friendly environment nationwide.
Salami highlighted ongoing reforms in Kogi, including improvements in land administration, commerce, investment promotion, agriculture, and legal frameworks to enhance access to credit for businesses.
He described the session as “a timely opportunity to evaluate progress and reinforce collaboration among implementing agencies as the state pursues crucial development funding both locally and internationally.”
PEBEC Director-General, Zahrah Audu, commended the state’s commitment to the reform agenda and urged the government to accelerate efforts to meet the required benchmarks.
The statement noted that Kogi has met four out of the twelve required reform milestones under SABER. However, Audu said the one-year extension granted to the programme offers a critical opportunity for Kogi to improve its standing.
She outlined several key priorities for the state, including:
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Establishing a functional grievance redress mechanism
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Issuing an executive order for inter-agency collaboration
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Creating small claims courts
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Publishing monthly business-related statistics consistently
Audu stressed that SABER funding is strictly performance-based. So far, only $70.9 million of the total $750 million fund has been accessed nationwide—less than 10%—due to poor compliance with reform milestones by many states.
She reaffirmed her commitment to supporting Kogi’s reform efforts by offering technical guidance and hands-on assistance to the state’s implementation team.
Audu also emphasised Kogi’s strategic location and rich human and natural resources, noting that with the right reforms, the state could become a prime investment destination and economic hub in Nigeria’s North Central region.