FG, States to Leverage on $750m World Bank-assisted SABER Programme for Land Reforms, Others

•Each state to get $4.5m for successfully setting up requisite governance systems

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The federal government and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) have embarked on a collaborative approach to leverage on the World Bank-assisted $750 million State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme for critical reforms at the subnational level.

The nascent programme is designed to improve efficiency in land reforms, and regulatory framework for private investment in fiber optic deployment, among others.

SABER is the successor programme to the States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme-for-Results (PforR) designed to enthrone fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability at the sub-national level which was introduced in 2018.

It is a three-year (2023-2025) $750 million programme which seeks to incentivise states to implement critical reforms aimed at improving efficiency in land administration, the regulatory framework for private investment in fiber optic deployment, services provided by investment promotion agencies and public private partnership units, and the efficiency and transparency of government to business services in participating states.

To effectively achieve the reforms agenda of the programme, the federal government has engaged the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) to assist in providing a cocktail of technical assistance services, including advisory, guidelines, peer learning sessions and technical workshops.

The financing from the programme seeks to reward states with over $4.5 million each for successfully setting up the requisite “Governance Systems, Guidelines and Piloting Investment(s) in line with Established Principles.”

The National Programme Coordinator, SABER Programme, Dr. Ali Mohammed, who spoke in Abuja at the commencement of a workshop on the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) jointly organised for sub-nationals by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the NGF, expressed government’s commitment to adopting responsible and inclusive land-based investment principles in the agricultural sector.

According to him, this is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to improve the ease of doing business, deliver on food security, as well as ensure social and environmental sustainability.

FRILIA is one of the many reforms advocated by the SABER programme.

He noted that, among others, the SABER Programme was designed to ensure the efficiency and transparency of government to business services in participating states, adding that disbursements from the $750 million will be on-lent to the states upon annual verification by an independent verification agent (IVA) that a state has successfully implemented the associated reforms.

The Communication Specialist SABER Programme, Ibrahim Mohammed in a statement quoted Dr. Mohammed Ali as lamenting that although food production has been increasing steadily, attaining food security remains a major challenge,

Ali noted that while the government had intervened in terms of making financing and input available, more systemic issues around land administration and compliance with best practice standards remain an issue.

“As we seek out increased investment in the sector, we must ensure that impediments to doing business are removed and that investors adhere to principles and guidelines that safeguard the rights of host communities.

“They should also employ operating models that have the least impact on livelihood and the environment. It is our belief that the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) provides the roadmap for attaining these objectives,” he said.

He added that in order to provide the right enabling environment, the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) through the World Bank-assisted SABER Programme, has engaged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to assist in providing a variety of technical assistance services, including advisory, guidelines, peer learning sessions and technical workshops.

According to him, the financing from the programme seeks to reward states with over US$4.5 million each for successfully setting up the requisite Governance Systems, Guidelines and Piloting Investment(s) in line with Established Principles.

 “This reform will also strategically position your states for local and foreign investment, hence, creating more jobs and eventually, propel the much desired economic growth,” he said.

In his remarks at the workshop, the NGF Director General, Mr. Asishana Bayo Okauru Esq. disclosed that under the SABER) Programme, NGF was working collaboratively with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the World Bank to deliver advisory and capacity-building support to states.

 Okauru observed that land-based investment in Nigeria has been marred by various challenges ranging from lack of clarity on governance mechanisms, weak administrative support systems for stakeholders, poor data, little or no recognition for inclusion, gender equality and cultural values, poor engagement with host community, disproportionate compensation and resettlement for persons displaced.

He said, “These have impacted negatively on the cost of doing business, agriculture value chain, livelihood, environment and ultimately, economic development.”

To address these challenges, Okauru emphasised that state governments seeking out investment for intensive land-based agriculture, must think through strengthening their governance and administrative systems by ensuring that issues of inclusion, gender equality, fair compensation, environmental as well as social sustainability are prioritised, and that established guidelines thereof are adhered to by all stakeholders.

He recalled that in 2021, the NGF in collaboration with the World Bank convened the first sub-national dialogue on the adoption of a Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA).

This, he explained, would facilitate experience sharing from front-runners such as Kaduna and Ogun States which have since then set up governance systems and guidelines for implementation.

Also in 2023, he said the Forum had similarly supported seven States (Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger and Zamfara) with the development of an Executive Order mandating the adoption of FRILIA.

According to him, the model Executive Order being advocated by NGF sets out in-part the governance and administrative mechanisms, commitment to international and proven principles that guarantee recognition, respect and protection of land and human rights.

“It also outlines commitment to ensuring inclusion and gender equality, environmental and social sustainability, food security, responsible natural resource management amongst others,” he said.

Okauru thanked the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Finance for their continued support and collaboration in advancing reforms for sub-national development.

SFTAS, which the SABER Programme is succeeding is billed to officially wind down in December, having undergone a couple of extensions.