Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as members of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), to strengthen collaboration in order to create a more conducive environment for doing business in Nigeria.
Speaking on Wednesday at the closing session of the PEBEC Retreat for MDA heads and reform champions in Abuja, Shettima emphasized that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains firmly committed to its eight-point Renewed Hope Agenda, which includes creating a streamlined and investor-friendly business climate.
“This retreat was convened by PEBEC, which I have the privilege of chairing, not only to assess progress on reforms but, more importantly, to deepen synergy,” Shettima said. “The work of government is too interconnected to be carried out in isolation. PEBEC has shown that when MDAs with overlapping responsibilities collaborate, we can simplify procedures, harmonize timelines, and build institutional trust.”
He stressed the importance of teamwork and innovation, urging participants to ensure that outcomes from the retreat lead to tangible improvements in government service delivery.
“Trust is the most valuable currency in governance,” Shettima said. “Without it, no reform can endure. The era of buck-passing is over. Bureaucratic turf wars must end. Nigeria’s economic and social future depends on the choices we make today.”
The Vice President further noted that Nigerians and potential investors are paying attention, and time is of the essence.
“We must move from policy to performance, from ambition to execution. Our citizens deserve efficient, transparent, and responsive institutions. Whether registering a business, clearing cargo, or accessing government services, they should not be trapped in bureaucratic red tape.”
Shettima called on MDA leaders to adopt joint planning, share data, and establish shared key performance indicators, particularly where their responsibilities overlap. He encouraged the formation of interagency task teams for implementing critical reforms, while urging officials to resolve conflicts through dialogue and close operational gaps through innovation.
“This is how we build a government that works not in fragments, but in sync,” he added.
