The Federal Government has disbursed $68.36 million to 28 states under the States Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme, a $750 million World Bank-supported initiative aimed at improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Lydia Jafiya, disclosed this at the 2025 National Sensitisation Workshop on SABER held in Abuja on Monday.
Jafiya stated that 33 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have signed the Subsidiary Loan Agreement, with 28 states receiving between $1 million and $4 million in Prior Results Disbursements.
Business Reforms to Improve Investment Climate
The disbursed funds are intended to support states in implementing business-friendly reforms that will:
- Enhance competitiveness and improve the business environment.
- Streamline business regulations to reduce bureaucratic delays.
- Improve investment policies to attract both local and foreign investors.
Jafiya commended state governments for their commitment to these reforms despite initial delays in the programme's rollout.
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Independent Verification and Transparency Measures
An Independent Verification Firm has been engaged to assess state performance for 2023 and 2024 to ensure that the allocated funds are used for the intended reforms.
She noted that lessons from the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme have led to:
- Increased transparency in government-business relations.
- Improved land acquisition processes for businesses.
- Enhanced dispute resolution mechanisms for business-related grievances.
Key Achievements Under the SABER Programme
The programme has so far resulted in:
- Improved public-private partnerships, facilitating business expansion.
- Lower costs of fibre optic deployment, benefiting digital businesses.
- More efficient regulatory frameworks, easing business operations.
Jafiya acknowledged the support of the World Bank, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), the Nigeria Governors' Forum, and the Debt Management Office (DMO) in the implementation of the programme.
She urged state officials and SABER focal persons to actively participate in discussions to ensure better execution of the programme and greater engagement with the business community.
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Federal Government Reaffirms Commitment to Business Growth
Declaring the workshop open, Jafiya reiterated the Federal Government's commitment to:
- Strengthening state-level institutions to support businesses.
- Creating a business-friendly environment that fosters growth.
- Positioning Nigeria as an attractive investment destination.
The National Programme Coordinator of SABER, Dr. Ali Mohammed, emphasized that future disbursements under the programme would be based on annual independent verification, ensuring that states meet set reform targets.
He explained that the programme aims to improve land administration, regulatory frameworks for private investment, and investment promotion services, which are crucial to economic growth and business sustainability.
