Top 10 Nigerian States for Ease of Doing Business in 2023

The 2023 Nigeria Subnational Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) Report has shed light on the varying degrees of business-friendliness across different states in the country. This report, which is a comprehensive assessment of business environments at the state level, has provided valuable insights into the landscape of business opportunities in Nigeria. 

The report’s indicators and data collection methods were clearly defined within six key categories which include Infrastructure, transparency and accessibility of information, skills and labor, secure and stable environment, regulatory environment, and economic opportunity.

According to the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) report, Overall EoDB satisfaction in Nigeria saw marginal improvement, but dissatisfaction remains. This underscores the importance of evaluating the ease of doing business in individual states to identify areas for improvement and development. With this backdrop, let’s look into the Nigerian states with ease of doing business in 2023. Let’s dive in.

Gombe state – 7.15

Gombe State shines as the top performer with an EoDB score of 7.15. It excels in infrastructure as the third, transparency, as 2nd, and skills 9th. Gombe’s secure environment ranks 1st, instilling confidence, while its regulatory environment is strong at 5th. It also ranks 13th in economic opportunity, showcasing a dedicated commitment to fostering a business-friendly atmosphere.

Jigawa State – 6.88

Jigawa State secures the second spot with an impressive EoDB score of 6.88. It stands out in multiple categories, ranking 1st in transparency and accessibility of information, 2nd in skills and labor, and 2nd in the regulatory environment. Furthermore, it takes 3rd place in both the secure and stable environment and economic opportunity, highlighting its commitment to business friendliness. Jigawa’s investment in human resources is a key factor contributing to its strong performance in these areas.

Sokoto state – 6.83

Sokoto State secured the third position with a solid EoDB score of 6.83. It boasts notable strengths, ranking 5th in infrastructure, 6th in transparency and accessibility of information, and 3rd in the regulatory environment. Furthermore, it stands at 5th place in economic opportunity, reflecting its commitment to fostering business growth. However, Sokoto has room for improvement in its skills and labor pool which stands on the 24th, and maintaining a secure and stable environment on the 16th, areas crucial for business attraction and retention.

Kebbi State – 6.74

Kebbi State secured the fourth position with an outstanding EoDB score of 6.74. The state’s remarkable performance shines through with first-place rankings in infrastructure and the regulatory environment. It also excels, ranking third in transparency and accessibility of information, seventh in skills and labor, and first in economic opportunity. Kebbi’s second-place position in the secure and stable environment underscores its unwavering commitment to nurturing a conducive business climate.

Katsina state – 6.52

Katsina State secured the fifth spot with a commendable EoDB score of 6.52. The state shows strength in infrastructure as 11th and transparency and accessibility of information as 10th. Notably, Katsina excels in the regulatory environment as 4th, reflecting its business-friendly policies. Additionally, it performs well in skills and labor as 9th, and economic opportunity stands on 11th. However, there is room for growth in the secure and stable environment category which stands at 29th, an important aspect of attracting and retaining businesses.

Bauchi state – 6.37

Bauchi State secured the sixth position with a commendable EoDB score of 6.37. The state stands out in infrastructure on the 4th and transparency on the 7th, showcasing its commitment to providing essential business resources and information. It also ranks well in skills and labor on the 8th, the secure environment on the 7th, and economic opportunities on the 6th. In the regulatory environment, it holds the 13th position, further solidifying its status as a conducive place for business.

Anambra state – 6.19

Anambra State secured the seventh position with a solid EoDB score of 6.19. Although the state ranks lower in infrastructure as the 22nd and most secure and stable environment on the 34th, it shines in transparency and accessibility of information on the 14th, skills and labor, 20th, regulatory environment 19th, and economic opportunity 24th. This showcases Anambra’s strengths in providing information and fostering a conducive regulatory atmosphere for businesses, even if there’s room for improvement in other areas.

Kaduna state – 6.18

Kaduna State secured the eighth position with a commendable EoDB score of 6.18. The state excels in various categories, with impressive rankings in infrastructure as, transparency and accessibility to information (8th), regulatory environment (7th), and economic opportunity (8th). Kaduna also demonstrates strength in skills and labor (14th) and maintaining a secure and stable environment (14th), underscoring its potential as a business-friendly destination.

Yobe state – 6.15

Yobe State secured the ninth position with an EoDB score of 6.15. The state impresses in several key areas, notably ranking second in infrastructure and economic opportunity. Yobe also performs admirably in transparency and accessibility of information as 9th, skills and labor 4th, and maintaining a secure and stable environment as 4th. Its overall performance showcases a clear dedication to nurturing a conducive environment for business growth, while it maintains a respectable position in the regulatory environment as 8th.

Plateau State – 5.87

Plateau State secures the tenth spot with a commendable EoDB score of 5.87. The state stands at 17th place in infrastructure, 20th in transparency and accessibility of information, and 10th in the regulatory environment. Its skills and labor ranking at 13th is another notable strength. While there’s room for improvement in the secure and stable environment on the 33rd and economic opportunity as 20th, Plateau’s overall performance merits its inclusion among the top ten states for ease of doing business.