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Summary
Zahrah Audu has launched a regulatory framework to improve Nigeria’s business climate by ensuring transparency and reducing hurdles. PEBEC’s broader reforms aim to attract investment, streamline processes, and promote inclusive economic growth.
Zahrah Mustapha Audu, the new Director General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), has started her tenure by making moves to enhance Nigeria’s business environment. Days after her appointment in Jan. 2025, she immediately launched the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) Framework at the Second Existing Foreign Direct Investors Roundtable.
Effective in Mar. 2025, the framework requires federal agencies to assess policy impacts through 11 key questions, ensuring transparency and reducing compliance hurdles. According to Zahrah, streamlining regulations will attract foreign investment and lower business costs. She has also outlined plans to simplify business registration and remove bureaucratic barriers.
As part of broader reforms, PEBEC plans to establish commercial courts and subnational councils to tackle regulatory inefficiencies. The council also aims to improve infrastructure, deepen sectoral reforms, and promote entrepreneurship to strengthen Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Zahrah’s leadership marks a significant step toward greater gender inclusion in Nigeria’s economic policy. As an advocate for women in business, she brings a unique perspective to PEBEC’s mission of fostering a more business-friendly environment.
