FG Moves to End Multiple Business Registrations

The Federal Government is preparing to introduce a unified digital platform that will allow businesses to submit their information once instead of providing the same documents repeatedly to different government agencies.

The planned reform is being driven by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), which wants Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to share verified information through a secure and connected system. The move is expected to reduce paperwork, shorten processing time and make it easier for businesses to deal with government institutions.

The Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, announced the initiative in Abuja during the presentation of the council’s 2026 Mid-Term Assessment of 69 business-facing MDAs. She explained that many government agencies have adopted digital services, but most of their systems still function independently, making businesses submit identical information several times before accessing different services.

She said the council intends to connect these digital platforms into a single network where information provided by businesses can be securely accessed by authorised government agencies without requiring fresh submissions each time. The system will include measures to protect data while allowing institutions to carry out their responsibilities more efficiently.

According to Audu, the reform is expected to reduce unnecessary administrative procedures, cut compliance costs for businesses and improve the speed of government services. She added that investors dealing with multiple regulatory agencies would benefit from a more coordinated process.

She explained that the project forms part of the Federal Government’s implementation of the Business Facilitation Act, which aims to simplify official procedures, improve transparency and create a more business-friendly environment across the country.

Audu also revealed that government institutions have recorded noticeable improvements in service delivery since the recommendations contained in the 2025 Business Facilitation Act Compliance Report were introduced. She noted that 98 per cent of the 69 MDAs assessed now respond to enquiries promptly and deliver services within approved timelines.

To ensure the reforms continue to produce better results, PEBEC will maintain its mystery shopping programme. Under the initiative, officials anonymously assess government agencies by using their services to evaluate the quality, speed and openness of service delivery from the perspective of ordinary users.