By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief & Johnbosco Agbakwuru
THE World Bank has ranked Nigeria 145th  of 190 countries of the world in its latest report of Doing Business 2018, released, yesterday.

World-Bank-President, Jim Yong Kim

Nigeria scored 52.03 points, which was slightly above the African Regional Average of 50.43 points, moving up 24 places in the rankings.

The country was also reported by the World Bank to be among the top 10 reformers globally.

New Zealand, Denmark and Singapore topped the global table with 86.56, 84.57 and 84.06 points,   respectively.

On the African continent, Mauritius with 77.56 points was ranked Africa’s best and 25th in the world.

Besides Mauritius, Rwanda and Kenya were the other two high performers in the African Region, with 73.40 and 65.15 points, respectively.

Others were Botswana, 64.94; South Africa, 64.89; and Zambia with 64.50 points.   Somalia, Eritrea and South Sudan were behind all other countries, as they ranked 190, 189 and 187 respectively.

The bank said  the Doing Business project provides objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 190 economies and selected cities at the sub-national and regional level.

Buhari lauds rating

Reacting to the rating, yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari, who expressed excitement on the cheering news, said the rating had put Nigeria’s economic environment on the positive side.

A statement signed by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said:  “The President congratulates all Nigerians on this very significant step forward which symbolizes the real success achieved by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, the National Assembly and state governments in making it easy for people to register their businesses speedily, obtain licenses and approvals from government agencies without unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks.

“It also reflects our efforts to make it easy for foreign business visitors to obtain visa on arrival, pass through our airports and do their businesses with ease and speed.”

He particularly commended PEDEC (Presidential Ease of Doing Business), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for a job well done, adding that he looked forward to even greater achievements for the nation.