Five states in the country last night received awards for been top five reformed states in the year 2018.
The states in descending order included Kaduna, Enugu, Lagos, Abia, and Anambra.
They received their awards from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Awards 2019 held at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.
Anambra State improved its score from 47 to 53.50 by making it easier to start a business and to register property in the State.
Abia State improved its score from 46 to 53.90 by making it easier to start a business and to register property in the state.
Lagos State improved its score from 48 to 54.90 by making it easier to start a business, register property and obtain construction permits in the State.
Enugu State improved its score from 47 to 56.82 by making it easier to start a business, register property as well as enforce contracts in the State.
Kaduna State improved its score from 55 to 65.97 by making it easier to start a business.
Other companies and individuals that got awards at the ceremony included Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Corporate Affairs Commission, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion.
Others are the Senate and the House of Representatives, Court of Appeal, Nigeria Bar Association, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, National Assembly Environment Round Table, DFiD, World Bank, Oando Energy Resources, First Bank of Nigeria,
Omotayo Omoniyi, who returned large sum of money found to the authorities also received award at the ceremony.
Other awardees are FIRS, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Port’s Authority, Nigeria Shippers Council, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Lagos State Judiciary.
Banwo and Ighodalo, KPMG Nigeria, Procter and Gamble Nigeria, Deloitte Nigeria and Aluko and Oyebode also got awards at the ceremony.
Osinbajo said “It really is a pleasure to be here this evening to celebrate the phenomenal successes of the PEBEC reforms but more importantly to recognize specially some of those who made it all possible. In the past three years, Nigeria has implemented more than 140 reforms to make doing business in Nigeria easier.
“Some of the successful reforms include the ability to: Reserve a business name within 4-hours, Complete the registration of a company within 24 hours online, Apply for and receive approval of a visa-on-arrival electronically within 48hrs, file and pay taxes online; and, Access specialised small claims commercial courts in Lagos and Kano.
The World Bank also reported in 2018 that 32 states of Nigeria improved their Ease of doing business environment led by Kaduna, Enugu, Abia, Lagos and Anambra
