SABER: FG disburses $68.36m to 28 states for business reforms – Jafiya
World Bank
SABER: FG disburses $68.36m to 28 states for business reforms – Jafiya
The Federal Government has disbursed a total of $68.36 million to 28 states under the States Action on Business Enabling Reforms Programme, a $750 million loan initiative supported by the World Bank to improve the ease of doing business across Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday at the 2025 National Sensitisation Workshop on the SABER Programme.
The workshop, organised by the Programme Coordinating Unit in collaboration with the World Bank, brought together state commissioners of finance, heads of ministerial departments and agencies, as well as SABER focal persons to discuss the implementation of key business reforms at the state level.
Jafiya noted that 33 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, had signed the Subsidiary Loan Agreement, with 28 states receiving between $1 million and $4 million as part of the Prior Results Disbursements.
The funds were released to help states implement reforms that enhance business competitiveness, streamline regulations, and improve investment policies.
She acknowledged the resilience of state governments in pursuing the reforms despite initial delays in the programme’s take-off.
“It is gratifying to know that, aside from three states, the remaining 33 states of the federation, including the FCT, have signed up to the Subsidiary Loan Agreement, and at least 28 states have received between $1 million and $4 million in Prior Results Disbursements, from a total disbursement of $68.36 million recently concluded,” Jafiya said.
She further stated that an Independent Verification Firm had been engaged to conduct performance assessments for 2023 and 2024.
She explained that lessons learned from the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability Programme had significantly improved transparency in business-government relations, optimised land acquisition processes, and strengthened grievance redress mechanisms for businesses.
Other key achievements recorded under the programme include enhanced public-private partnership frameworks, reduced costs of fibre optic deployment for businesses, and improved regulatory efficiency.
The Permanent Secretary commended the World Bank for its continued support through the SABER Programme and Programme-for-Results financing.
She also acknowledged the contributions of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and the Debt Management Office, which have played key roles in ensuring the success of the initiative.
Jafiya urged state officials and SABER focal persons to actively participate in discussions and engage with technical assistance partners to ensure a better understanding of the programme’s implementation.
She also called for improved communication of the programme’s impact to the business and investor community.
Declaring the workshop open, she reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering an enabling business environment, strengthening state-level institutional capacity, and ensuring Nigeria remains an attractive destination for investment.
Also speaking, Dr Ali Mohammed, Director of the Home Finance Department and National Programme Coordinator of SABER, emphasised the programme’s role in incentivising states to implement critical business reforms.
He noted that disbursements under the programme would be made based on annual independent verification, ensuring states meet set reform targets.
He explained that SABER aims to enhance efficiency in land administration, regulatory frameworks for private investment in fibre optic deployment, and services provided by investment promotion agencies and public-private partnership units.
The initiative is expected to strengthen transparency in government-to-business services, ultimately positioning states as attractive destinations for both local and foreign investment, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
