Lagos State Dominates Nigeria's 2025 Business Environment Rankings
Lagos State has once again proven why it remains Nigeria's economic powerhouse, topping the 2025 Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report with an impressive 85.6 percent score. This victory showcases the state's commitment to creating a business-friendly environment that attracts both local and international investors.
The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) released the comprehensive report through its Director-General, Mrs Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, highlighting how Nigerian states are stepping up their game in business competitiveness.
The Winners Circle
Following Lagos's stellar performance, Kaduna State secured second place with 65.1 percent, demonstrating the northern region's growing business appeal. The top five was completed by Oyo State (62.7 percent), the Federal Capital Territory (61.0 percent), and Ogun State (59.9 percent).
The remaining top 10 positions featured Enugu (56.2 percent), Plateau (56.2 percent), Ekiti (55.8 percent), Kano (54.8 percent), and Nasarawa (53.4 percent), showing that business excellence spans across Nigeria's diverse regions.
What Makes the Difference
The comprehensive assessment examined 16 key indicators across 36 sub-metrics, evaluating everything from electricity and infrastructure to digital connectivity, land administration, taxation, trade logistics, justice delivery, investor support, and skilled labour readiness.
According to Mustapha-Audu, the leading states distinguished themselves through consistent reform momentum, improved digital processes, and more predictable regulatory environments. These are exactly the qualities that make Nigerian businesses competitive on the global stage.
The Roadmap Forward
The report doesn't just celebrate success, it provides a clear action plan. Five priority interventions have been identified for immediate implementation:
- Establishing comprehensive investor aftercare systems
- Strengthening MSME credit enablement programs
- Harmonizing interstate trade rules
- Upgrading commercial justice processes
- Improving power reliability for industrial clusters
PEBEC continues to support state-led reforms through the ambitious $750 million State Action on Business Enabling Reforms program, demonstrating the federal government's commitment to empowering states to drive economic growth.
Federal Agencies Leading by Example
The council also released its 2025 Business Facilitation Act Performance Report, showcasing how federal agencies are improving service delivery. The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board topped the rankings with 90.6 percent, followed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (89 percent), Nigeria Customs Service (86.6 percent), Nigerian Communications Commission (85.3 percent), and Nigerian Ports Authority (84.2 percent).
Under the leadership of Vice President Kashim Shettima, PEBEC continues its mission to remove bureaucratic constraints and improve Nigeria's business environment perception globally. The complete 2025 Subnational EoDB Report is available for download at www.pebec.gov.ng/reports.
This data-driven approach to measuring and improving business competitiveness positions Nigeria as a serious player in attracting investment and fostering economic growth across all regions.