Lagos, NCDMB Lead New Ease of Doing Business Ranking as PEBEC Unveils 2025 Report

|By Babatunji Wusu

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has declared Lagos State and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as 2025’s top-performing subnational entity and federal agency in Nigeria’s latest ease of doing business evaluation.

PEBEC Director General, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, released the ranking on Thursday, confirming NCDMB at the forefront of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with a commanding 90.6 percent score. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) trailed closely with 89.3 percent, while the Nigeria Customs Service claimed third position with 86.6 percent. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) secured fourth and fifth places, scoring 85.3 percent and 84.2 percent, respectively.

In the subnational category, Lagos State cemented its dominance with 85.6 percent—far ahead of Kaduna’s 65.1 percent. Oyo State followed with 62.7 percent, while the Federal Capital Territory and Ogun State posted 61.0 percent and 59.9 percent, rounding out the top five. Enugu and Plateau tied in sixth at 56.2 percent, with Ekiti (55.8), Kano (54.8) and Nasarawa (53.4) completing the top 10.

PEBEC, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima since its establishment in July 2016, continues to drive federal reforms aimed at eliminating bureaucratic hurdles and strengthening Nigeria’s business competitiveness.