The Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, Zahra Mustapha Audu, has called for sustained engagement with investors and stronger collaboration between government institutions and the private sector to improve Nigeria’s business environment.
Audu made the call during the third Existing Foreign Direct Investors Roundtable convened by PEBEC at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the PEBEC Secretariat on Saturday, the roundtable brought together senior government officials and foreign investors currently operating in Nigeria to discuss ways of strengthening the country’s investment climate.
Speaking at the opening session, Audu said the council remains committed to sustained dialogue with investors and coordinated implementation of reforms across government institutions.
She described existing foreign investors as critical partners in Nigeria’s economic development.
“Existing foreign investors remain critical partners in Nigeria’s economic development through their contributions to job creation, capital investment, technology transfer, and supply chain development,” she said.
Audu added that the council places strong emphasis on engaging investors already operating in the country in order to better understand and address the practical challenges affecting their operations
“PEBEC’s engagement strategy places significant emphasis on listening to investors already operating in the country and addressing practical challenges that affect their operations,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Ibrahim Hadejia, who represented Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chairman of PEBEC, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
He said the government remains committed to “fostering a stable, transparent, and competitive business environment that supports investment, expansion, and long-term economic growth.”
Also participating virtually, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, provided insights on ongoing fiscal and tax reform initiatives aimed at strengthening revenue administration and improving tax certainty for investors.
The statement added that representatives of diplomatic missions, including those of the United States, Russia, France, Colombia, Denmark and Pakistan, attended the event.
It added that development partners such as the United Nations and the World Bank also participated in the engagement.
PEBEC noted that the “successful convening of the third FDI roundtable reinforces the council’s role as a key platform for coordinating reforms, resolving investor concerns and strengthening Nigeria’s position as a competitive investment destination in Africa.”
By: Solomon Odeniyi
