Borno Targets Investor-Friendly Environment as PEBEC Holds Town Hall in Maiduguri

By Mala Abdullaziz 

The Borno State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to creating a more investor-friendly environment by reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and strengthening reforms aimed at attracting investment to the state.

The State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the State Ease of Doing Business Council, Alhaji Usman Kadafur, stated this at the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Nationwide Town Hall and State Engagement Tour held in Maiduguri.

Represented by the Chief Investment Adviser to the Governor and Chairman of the Borno State Investment Promotion Agency (Borno-Invest), Dr. Sa'id Alkali Kori, the Deputy Governor said the state had made significant progress in implementing reforms designed to improve the ease of doing business and enhance investment opportunities.

He explained that Borno State had fully implemented the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Project in collaboration with the World Bank, operationalising the Business Enabling Reforms Action Plan (BERAP) to reduce the cost and time required to establish and run businesses in the state.

Dr. Kori added that Borno-Invest would continue to collaborate with PEBEC, the SABER Project and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to improve investor experience and sustain the state's post-conflict economic recovery efforts.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, represented by Project Manager, Mrs. Aimeya Okpebholo, said the engagement was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the Federal and State Governments, deepening public-private partnerships and accelerating reforms that support economic growth and inclusive development.

She noted that PEBEC would continue to engage businesses to identify and address challenges affecting their operations while providing support in critical areas to improve the business environment.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Borno State Investment Promotion Agency, Hajiya Maryam Shehu, highlighted efforts by the state government to create a conducive atmosphere for businesses through improved access to finance and investment opportunities.

Participants drawn from both the public and private sectors identified key challenges affecting businesses and proposed measures to attract more investors to the state. 

They also discussed reform areas such as investment promotion, transparency, trade facilitation, faster resolution of commercial disputes and the adoption of Regulatory Impact Assessment frameworks to support evidence-based policymaking.

The event attracted representatives of PEBEC, officials of the SABER Project, heads of ministries and agencies, investors, members of the business community and media practitioners.