Isiyaku Ahmed
Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business, attracting investment and driving sustainable economic growth.
The commitment was reiterated during a two-day stakeholders’ engagement on the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Program and the Business Enabling Reforms (BERAP) Action Plan held at BON Hotel, Kano.
The workshop brought together private sector associations, investors, chambers of commerce, manufacturers, professional bodies, development partners, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the media.
Declaring the workshop open on behalf of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Ibrahim Farouk, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Consumer Protection Council, Dr. Ibrahim Garba Muhammed, said the SABER Program provides a strategic opportunity to strengthen institutional efficiency, streamline regulatory processes, improve public service delivery and promote accountability across government institutions.
The SSG said the Yusuf administration recognizes the private sector as the engine of sustainable economic development and remains committed to creating a business-friendly environment where enterprises can flourish and investors operate with confidence.
He noted that the reforms being implemented under the SABER Program are designed to stimulate economic activities, generate employment opportunities and improve the living standards of Kano residents.
Farouk also commended the Federal Government, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), the World Bank and other development partners for supporting initiatives that enhance the investment climate and improve the ease of doing business across the country.
He urged participants to make meaningful contributions and offer practical recommendations that would further strengthen Kano’s business environment and promote a more competitive and inclusive economy before formally declaring the workshop open.
Earlier, the Kano State SABER Program Focal Person, Muhammed Yahaya Liman, presented the BERAP status report, highlighting reform activities that had been completed, were on schedule, delayed, or dropped.
He explained the reasons behind delayed or discontinued actions and outlined plans for carrying outstanding reforms into the 2027 Business Enabling Reforms Action Plan.
Liman urged all MDAs to promptly submit the required inputs for the 2027 BERAP Progress Report, describing it as critical to Kano’s eligibility for SABER funding, improving the state’s investment climate and enhancing its ranking in business environment reforms.
He also called on government agencies to provide evidence of completed reforms and relevant supporting documents within the stipulated timeline, stressing that the program’s success depends on the collective commitment of all stakeholders.
At the end of the workshop, private sector representatives urged the state government to fully implement the remaining reform actions in the current year’s plan and ensure that the priorities and recommendations of the private sector are adequately reflected in the 2027 Business Enabling Reforms Action Plan.
