Lagos Tops Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business Ranking

Lagos State has emerged as the best-performing state in Nigeria for ease of doing business, according to the 2026 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council rankings.

The ranking, released in March and based on the 2025 Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report, assessed all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory across indicators such as infrastructure, land administration, digital service delivery, investor support systems, and regulatory efficiency.

The recognition was formally presented to the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Speaking at a ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, the commissioner described the ranking as evidence of sustained reforms aimed at transforming Lagos into Africa’s leading commercial and investment hub, positioning the state as “the Business Gateway of Africa.”

She linked the achievement to the Lagos State Development Plan 2052 and the T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda, particularly the economic pillar focused on building a 21st-century economy.

A key driver of the state’s investment push is the “Invest in Lagos” summit series. The second edition, held in July 2025, attracted over 500 investors, policymakers, and business leaders. The state is now preparing for “Invest in Lagos 3.0,” scheduled for June 8 and 9, 2026, at the Eko Convention Centre.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had earlier promoted Lagos at the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council Trade and Investment Summit in London.

Beyond investment promotion, the ministry highlighted the federal adoption of the state’s cooperative financing programme, LASMECO, as a national template for MSME financing. The state has also rolled out the Lagos State Industrial Policy 2025–2030 and begun upgrading industrial estates in Matori and Ikorodu.

The ministry has hosted investment delegations from the United States, the Netherlands, and the UAE, and participated in global forums. Discussions have covered coastal protection, infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, and the creative economy.

The commissioner noted that the PEBEC ranking is not a final destination but a foundation for broader economic ambitions before the end of the current administration in 2027.