From Ranking 34th to “SHINE”: Edo State’s Strategy to Rewrite the Business Narrative in 2026

Edo State is currently at a critical policy junction. After historical rankings of 34th and 37th in Nigeria’s subnational Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) surveys, the Governor Monday Okpebholo administration has launched a multi-sectoral counter-offensive. Central to this is the SHINE Agenda, a strategic roadmap designed to pivot the state from “stories to development.”

The SHINE Agenda: A New Governance Blueprint

The SHINE acronym represents the five pillars through which the administration aims to rebuild public trust and investor confidence:

• S – Security: Strengthening the Special Security Squad and enacting strict anti-cultism/kidnapping laws.

• H – Healthcare: Building a new 100-bed Specialist Hospital and 50+ Primary Health Centres.

• I – Infrastructure: Accelerating legacy projects like the Ikpoba Hill flyover to boost trade mobility.

• N – Natural Resources & Agriculture: Expanding market remodeling and rural access.

• E – Education: Remodeling schools and prioritizing technical/vocational skills.

SABER & BERAP: The Mechanics of Reform

To move the needle on national rankings, Edo is leveraging the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER)—a $750 million performance-based program supported by the World Bank and PEBEC.⁶ The state’s 2026 roadmap centers on the Business Enabling Reforms Action Plan (BERAP), which focuses on four key outcomes:

1. Efficiency in Land Administration: Moving toward digitized C of O processes to unlock dead capital.

2. Fiber Optic Infrastructure: Streamlining Right-of-Way (RoW) fees to boost digital connectivity for SMEs.

3. Investment Promotion: Strengthening Public-Private Partnership (PPP) units to provide “end-to-end” support for large investors.

4. Tax Transparency: Harmonizing levies and taxes into a single, predictable schedule to eliminate multiple taxation.

Strategic Stakeholder Validation

In early January 2026, the State EoDB Council, chaired by Finance Commissioner Emmanuel Okoebor, convened a validation workshop.¹⁰ This was not a routine briefing but a “preparatory engagement” where private sector players were invited to vet the 2026 BERAP.¹¹ The goal is to ensure that reforms are not just “on paper” but improve the “lived experience” of entrepreneurs in Benin City and beyond.

Edo State Business Reform Snapshot: 2025 vs. 2026 Goal