NCDMB, Lagos lead PEBEC’s 2025 business environment rankings

Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has released its 2025 Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Performance Report alongside the 2025 Subnational Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Report, offering a comprehensive national and state-level evaluation of reforms aimed at improving Nigeria’s business environment.

The council in a statement on Thursday noted that according to the BFA Performance Report, which covers January to October 2025, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) emerged as the top-performing MDA with a score of 90.6%. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) followed closely at 89.3%, while the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) ranked third with 86.6%.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) secured the fourth and fifth spots, scoring 85.3% and 84.2% respectively.

The report, which assessed 69 priority MDAs, drew on monthly compliance submissions, independent mystery shopping, website audits, ReportGov analytics, and targeted process-verification exercises.

PEBEC noted that the top-performing MDAs distinguished themselves through strong adherence to statutory obligations, digital process optimisation, predictable service delivery, and improved responsiveness to citizens and businesses.

Speaking on the findings, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, Director-General, PEBEC said the report underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and accountability.

She urged all MDAs to leverage the insights to strengthen service delivery and enhance business competitiveness.

In the subnational assessment, Lagos State emerged as Nigeria’s best-performing state with a score of 85.6%, reflecting its continued leadership in reform adoption, infrastructure improvement and regulatory efficiency.

Kaduna State placed second with 65.1%, while Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Ogun completed the top five with scores of 62.7%, 61.0%, and 59.9% respectively.

Enugu, Plateau, Ekiti, Kano, and Nasarawa made up the rest of the top 10, demonstrating notable progress in areas such as digital connectivity, land administration, power reliability, taxation, and trade logistics.

“Lagos emerged as the best performing state with an 85.6% score while Kaduna was second with a 65.1% score. Oyo, FCT, and Ogun rounded up the top five with scores of 62.7%, 61.0%, and 59.9% respectively. Enugu (56.2%) came in sixth with Plateau (56.2%), Ekiti (55.8%), Kano (54.8%), and Nasarawa (53.4%) rounding up the top 10 states,” the statement read.

The subnational report evaluated performance across 16 indicators and 36 sub-metrics, including infrastructure quality, investor support, justice delivery, and skilled labour readiness.

It also highlighted five priority reforms states can implement immediately, which includes establishing investor aftercare systems, strengthening MSME credit access, harmonising interstate trade rules, upgrading commercial justice systems, and improving electricity reliability for industrial clusters.

As PEBEC continues to support nationwide reform implementation, particularly through the $750 million State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme, the Council described the 2025 reports as critical tools for guiding policy decisions, investment strategies, and long-term economic competitiveness.

Established in July 2016, PEBEC is mandated to remove bureaucratic and legislative barriers to doing business in Nigeria and improve the country’s business climate. The Council is chaired by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date