The NCC was recognized alongside the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, which emerged overall best-performing agency; the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, which placed second; as well as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Ports Authority.

The recognition was announced at the PEBEC Awards and Gala Night held on Tuesday at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

The award celebrates transparency and efficiency in Nigeria’s public service and was presented to the Commission for its “commitment to openness, accountability and operational excellence in Public Service Delivery.”

Receiving the award on behalf of the Commission, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to sustaining transparency and accountability in its regulatory approach. He noted that these principles remain central to improving industry performance and fostering a conducive environment for telecommunications businesses to thrive.

“The Commission is proud to be listed among the Top Five Best-Performing Federal Government Agencies for 2025. This recognition is an affirmation of the values that guide our work: transparency, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to regulatory excellence. It signals that the reforms we have pursued, the systems we have strengthened, and the decisions we have taken are yielding the right results.

“For us at the NCC, this honour is both a validation and a responsibility. It reassures us that we are on the right path, and at the same time challenges us to deepen our commitment to the Nigerian people

“As an economic regulator, our mandate is to create an environment where operators can thrive—an environment that attracts investment and sustains healthy competition, ensuring consumers enjoy the best possible choices.

“Nigerians can rest assured that we will not rest on our oars. We remain fully committed to ensuring that the telecom consumer receives the highest quality of service, supported by a fair, transparent, and competitive industry. We will also continue to strengthen our collaborations with all stakeholders, because meaningful progress in our sector can only be achieved through shared commitment and collective action,” Dr. Maida stated.

Speaking at the awards, the PEBEC Director-General, Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, said the event was organised to celebrate reform champions and highlight progress made in improving the country’s business climate.

“This evening is not merely an awards ceremony; it is a powerful affirmation of possibilities, honouring the champions who have moved beyond compliance, embracing excellence as the new standard for public service delivery.

“The achievements we acknowledge are the tangible result of collective resolve to make Nigeria the most attractive and predictable competitive destination for business in Africa.

“Under the unwavering leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, and the active chairmanship of Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima, our reform efforts have been characterised by intentionality, accountability, and the strategic deployment of data.

“We understand that to fix the operational environment for businesses, we must first fix the government’s framework.”

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who chairs the council, said the awards reflect the government’s commitment to a more efficient and competitive public service.

“The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council has spent the last couple of years championing reforms that speak to the whole of our economic aspirations.

“The reforms that make it easier to do business, that restore your best confidence, that ensure our institutions work in the spirit of national growth.

“Tonight, we salute the men and women driving these institutions, when we commit to working together across MDAs, across states and across sectors, Nigeria wins,” he said.

The State Government under the leadership of the Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, reiterated the commitment at the maiden State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) technical session and state-wide town hall meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, held at the International Conference Center, Awka.

The event formed part of the nationwide tour by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), bringing federal reform champions face-to-face with state officials, private sector leaders, and the business community.

In his remarks, Governor Soludo who was represented by Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, deputy governor of the State, welcomed the PEBEC team and stakeholders, describing the session as timely and essential.

He stressed that Anambra’s business reforms are deliberate and data-driven, echoing Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo CFR’s belief that “if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”

Governor Soludo reaffirmed that although Anambra currently ranks 7th nationally and leads the South East on ease of doing business, the state views reforms as an ongoing, measurable process grounded in technology, planning, and accountability.

Princess Zahra Mustapha Audu, DG of PEBEC, in her goodwill remarks delivered via video, described the SABER programme, a $750 million World Bank-supported initiative, as a transformative partnership co-designed to help states implement global standards and create easier, more transparent business environments.

She stressed that while designing reforms matters, real impact comes from effectively implementing them, with states as the true engines of economic growth.

Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, in her opening remarks, emphasized that with over 98% of Anambra’s wealth held by the private sector, government reforms must be deliberate and responsive.

She noted that under Governor Soludo’s leadership, Anambra has remained intentional about ensuring businesses face fewer obstacles and enjoy a competitive edge.

During the technical session, PEBEC reform leaders Ohiemi Gabriel, Ifeanyi Icheke, and Oluwatofunmi Odunladi commended  Anambra’s reform champions for their consistent efforts in reporting, as well as the state government’s resolve which earned the state 7th place nationally and first in the South East in 2021 and 2023.

They encouraged Anambra to deepen its reforms ahead of the next ranking in December 2025, which will spotlight top-performing states and most improved states, alongside tailored recommendations for investors.

The highlight of the event was the panel discussion and town hall meeting anchored by the PEBEC team, featuring members of the State Executive Council as panelists, including the MD/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA; Commissioners for Industry, Lands, Power and Water Resources; MD of ANSIPPA; and MD of ASBA.

During this session, panelists discussed how technology is central to Anambra’s reform agenda. They spotlighted initiatives like the ANAMGIS (Anambra Geographic Information System), which digitizes land processes; the Grievance Redress Mechanism that swiftly addresses investor concerns; the adoption of the .anambrastate.gov.ng domain to standardize official digital communications and strengthen trust in government services; and the ongoing expansion of fiber ducts to enable 5G connectivity, all reflecting the administration’s “Everything Technology, Technology Everywhere” vision.

The conversation also highlighted Solution Lens, a civic engagement platform designed to deepen citizen participation and transparency by allowing residents to track and report on government projects across the state.

Together with strategic projects like road constructions which are deliberate efforts by Governor Soludo  to inter- connect Anambra State for easy moving round in doing business.

These reforms aim to enhance transparency, and position Anambra as a smarter, investor-friendly state

As Anambra prepares for the next PEBEC evaluation, government and stakeholders reiterated their resolve to keep reforms measurable, digital-led, and investor-focused

With technology and intentional governance at its heart, Anambra State is strengthening its position as a modern hub where businesses can invest, scale, and thrive.

This came about as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated on Tuesday that hard work at the sub-national level is the only way to create the type of business environment Nigeria needs for significant economic growth.

Osinbajo made the claim at a PEBEC meeting where he was briefed on the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms Program run by the secretariat and the World Bank, according to a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande.

“Osinbajo to state govt: your hard work is crucial for business environment changes to succeed,” said the statement.

Prof. Osinbajo said, “For all who are charged with responsibilities at the state level, you have your work cut out for you.”

“If we are going to have the kind of business environment that our country deserves and that can make a difference for our economy, it is the hard work at the sub-national level that would really move the needle.”

He added that “the states’ process is a very important one and I hope that we will be able to spend individually, especially in the states, a fair amount of time trying to work out how this will work in actual practice in our various states.”

He noted that at the federal level, it had been a major challenge “just trying to coordinate agencies and parastatals.”

We have been working together for more than two years to conceptualize the SABER Program, said Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser on Ease of Doing Business and Secretary of PEBEC. This program represents the first of its kind for the World Bank in the entire world.

She described SABER, a three-year program that runs from January 2023 to December 2025, as a performance-based intervention created in collaboration by the World Bank, the PEBEC Secretariat, and the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, with assistance from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat.

The $750 million operation comprises two main areas: a $730m Program-for-Results financing component and a $20m technical assistance for investment project financing.