Kaduna aligning with Tinubu’s reform agenda — Uba Sani

Governor Uba Sani has reaffirmed Kaduna State’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive, saying his administration has aligned its policies with President Bola Tinubu’s economic reform agenda.

The governor stated this on Thursday during the technical session of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) nationwide town hall and state engagement tour in Kaduna.

Represented by the Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Mrs Patience Fakai, Sani said his administration had implemented deliberate reforms aimed at improving transparency, strengthening institutions, simplifying government processes, promoting investments and enhancing service delivery.

According to him, the reforms are already yielding positive outcomes, citing Kaduna’s recent ranking as the second-best performing state in Nigeria in the Subnational Ease of Doing Business assessment.

“While we are proud of this achievement, we recognise that reform is a continuous journey and not a destination,” he said.

The governor described the workshop as an opportunity to deepen understanding of critical reform areas, including Regulatory Impact Assessment, investor experience management, harmonisation of levies and fees, commercial dispute resolution, digital reforms and other indicators that drive subnational competitiveness.

He noted that the engagement would also provide a platform for learning, peer exchange and collaborative problem-solving, adding that the recommendations from the sessions would strengthen Kaduna’s reform implementation efforts and help sustain its position as one of Nigeria’s leading investment destinations.

Sani urged participants to actively engage in the sessions, share experiences and take advantage of the expertise brought by the PEBEC team.

In her remarks, PEBEC Director-General, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, said the engagement reflects President Tinubu’s belief that sustainable economic transformation can only be achieved through close collaboration between the Federal Government and the states.

She said Nigeria’s economic future would be shaped not only in Abuja but also in states like Kaduna through the strength of local economies, the competitiveness of businesses, quality infrastructure and investor confidence.

Audu highlighted Kaduna’s strategic location as the gateway to Northern Nigeria, its transportation networks, vibrant agricultural sector, growing industrial base and strong educational institutions as key advantages that position the state as an attractive investment destination.

She also pointed to emerging opportunities in manufacturing, logistics, technology, renewable energy and agribusiness, noting that Kaduna’s road and rail connectivity, industrial estates and commitment to reforms provide a solid foundation for sustainable economic growth.

The PEBEC boss, however, said the challenge lies not in the absence of opportunities but in effectively packaging and communicating them while creating an enabling environment that inspires investor confidence.

She urged Kaduna State to continue strengthening sectors where it enjoys comparative advantages, deepen reforms that improve the ease of doing business, enhance infrastructure and support private sector growth.