BYFRANCIS EZEM

A recent report released by the World Bank has rated Nigeria lowest in Africa and 183 out of a total of 190 trading countries examined across the globe on the Ease of Doing in relation to Business Trading Across Borders TAD.

Nigeria, according to the report came last among a total of 17 African countries drawn across the various regions of the continent, having also come 183 out of a total of 190 countries in the world.

The World Bank had in its Ease of Doing Business report entitled, “Doing Business 2018: Reforming to create jobs, listed Nigeria on the 145th position out of 190 countries in the Ease of Doing Business index for 2018. The report indicated that Nigeria had moved up by 24 points from 169th position on the 2017 ranking and also 170th position on the 2016 ranking to 145 in the World Bank’s 2018 report.

Meanwhile in its latest report, the global apex bank listed Mali on the 85th position out of 190 and first in Africa followed by The Gambia, which came distant second position on the continent and 105th position in the world while Cape Verde came third in Africa but 107th position in the world.

Other details of the report showed that Burkina Faso came fourth in Africa but 113 in the whole world, Togo fifth in Africa and 121 in the world, Niger Republic came sixth in Africa and 122 on the global list even as Senegal and the Republic of Benin came 135 and 136 on the global list and seventh and eighth position in Africa, respectively.

The report also shows that Guinea Bissau emerged ninth position in Africa and 141 in the world, Cote d’ Ivoire emerged 155 position in the world but 10th in Africa, Ghana came 11th in Africa and 158 in the world, Sierra Lone came 162 in the world list and 12th position in Africa even as Cameroun came 13th position in Africa and 163 on the global list.

Others on the list include Guinea, which came 14th in Africa and 165 in the world, Rpublic of Chad came 172 position in the world and 15th in Africa while Liberia came 177 in the world and 16th position in Africa, thus leaving Nigeria at the bottom of the list, having emerged the 17th position, being the last in Africa and 183 out of the 190 listed in the world.

Meanwhile a border trade expert, Mr. Lucky Amiwero, who commented on this development, described it as not acceptable, insisting that the Federal Government must institute certain reforms to address the situation.

According to him, as an import dependent nation, and a major signatory to the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS, Trade Liberalisation Scheme ETLS, Nigeria must begin to refine and streamline her trade processes at the various land borders, which account for a very large chunk of her import and export trade.

The World Bank report on ease of doing business had placed Nigeria alongside El Salvador, India, Malawi, Brunei Darussalam, Kosovo, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Zambia and Djibouti among the top 10 improved countries worldwide, after carrying out numerous reforms to improve their business environments.

“These economies together, implemented 53 business regulation reforms across 10 of the areas measured by doing business. “Overall, the 10 top improvers implemented the most regulatory reforms in the area of getting credit, starting a business, dealing with construction permits and paying taxes,’ the report said.

Details of the report revealed that Nigeria now ranked 130th out of 190 countries from its 138 position in 2017, in terms of starting a business and 147th from 174th in 2017  in terms of getting construction permit, among several other indices.

The Federal Government had in a bid to enhance the ease of doing business in the country instituted the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council PEBEC in July 2016 and headed by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

The committee put in place by President Muhammadu Buhari was mandated to remove bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria and make the country a progressively easier place to start and grow a business.