The World Bank has stated that the recently released result of its study on Doing Business in Nigeria should not be seen as guide for investors   but only as a window to stimulate reform where weaknesses are noticed.  Mr. Williams Kingsmill, the Special Assistant to Dr Oby Ezekwezili, the African Vice President of the World Bank stated  this when  he led officials of the Bank  to  pay a visit to Governor Gbenga Daniel as part their working visit to understudy the workings of the State’s Free Trade Zones.

Apparently responding to the position of Ms Yosola Akinbi the Economic Adviser to the Governor who said the result of the study was at variance with the experience of those who do business in Ogun State, Kingsmill said while the Doing Business paradigm was important, it should not be used as guidebook by investors saying categorically that investors decision should not be based on it.  He said the efficiency of public expenditure, the State Government concern with education development, employment generation and transparency are key in the developmental processes that should be encouraged and institutionalized.   He said the World
Bank was committed to the economic agenda which the Ogun State Government was
pursuing, stating that the creation of enabling business environment, expansion
of economic base and job opportunities are critical measures of development.  He said his team was in Ogun to learn from State officials about the conception of the free trade zones and understudy its workings. He admitted that the World Bank does not have all the answers in Washington saying the officials are open to learning   and replicating best practices wherever found. He described the Ogun State Economic agenda as ambitious and workable.
 He promised the support and cooperation of the Bank especially since it was clear the State and the Bank were on the same page in the belief that to engender development a multi focal approach was critical. Kingsmill saluted the vision and leadership of the Governor which he said were   critical factors in engendering progress and development.

Bayo Akindeinde, World Bank Team Coordinator, Investment and Climate Programme who was also in the   group admitted that the controversial study on Doing Business in Nigeria did not take into consideration the level of investment in the states since only four r indicators were used.   He said in some of the States that came out tops in the study, “there was not much business going on there”.  He said it was  obvious from what  the team has seen  that “ Ogun is moving ahead and it is reforming” concluding  that if the World
Bank  didn’t think Ogun was  doing the right thing, the team would not come to the Gateway State to learn from its experience in developing Free Trade Zones..

Governor Daniel in his response advised that the World Bank should set standard in benchmarking that should be unassailable, and which must tally with the real situation on
the ground not just theories. “The last report did not reflect what is actually on the ground. Other criteria   should also come into play. It was inconceivable that the World Bank would use the same scale for a state that processes about 500 applications for industrial land in a week and one that processes the same number in four years. We have separated governance from politics, we have carefully selected those who drive our economic policies and developmental agenda and that is why we are getting it right,” the Governor told the World Bank team. Otunba Daniel said his administration has created the enabling environment that has continued to attract investors from different parts of the World
saying while the Chinese were driving one of the three free trade zones, Indians are working with the State on development of fertilizers plant while European investors are also working with the State on other ventures.  He said the States  unique  selling point include its  location advantage, safe and secure environment, cost  efficiency , support
for investors , favourable policies on  Public Private Partnership ,PPP, top of the range manpower and  constantly improving infrastructure. He said the State would cooperate with the World Bank to further consolidate its aggressive industrialization drive.  

 
Adegbenro Adebanjo  is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Daniel