The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council at its expanded meeting chaired by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja, has approved a 60-day national action plan for ease of doing business.

The plan is to be implemented in three priority areas: entry and exit of goods, entry and exit of people as well as government transparency and procurement.

The meeting, attended by Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, resolved that the number of agencies operating at the nation’s ports be streamlined to six.

The reforms, expected to improve Nigeria’s ranking in the World Bank Doing Business Index 2018, are to be implemented by the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat.

The reforms will also upgrade the Corporate Affairs Commission online portal to ensure document upload capabilities for new businesses to be registered online.

On entry and exit of people, the council observed that the visa on arrival and 48-hour visa processing procedures of the Nigerian Immigration Service were already operational with various levels of compliance.

The council agreed to collaborate with Lagos and Kano State governments to make processes for obtaining construction permits and registering properties faster cheaper and easier.

It would also partner with the National Assembly to pass the National Collateral Registry Bill and the Credit Bureau Services Bill to ease access to credit for SMEs.

Senate President Bukola Saraki said the fact that the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council wanted the bills passed within 60 days did not infringe on the independence of the legislature.