The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has revealed its intention to collaborate with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to enhance trade, promote local manufacturing, and simplify cross-border trade operations.

This announcement was made by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, during a meeting with the Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr. Charles Oidi, and his team at the NCS headquarters in Abuja.

Adeniyi emphasized that a dedicated team from SMEDAN will be established within the NCS office to offer specialized support and streamline processes for small business owners engaged in cross-border trade.

“The population of SMEs cannot be ignored. Whatever you do with them, you do it to strengthen the economy of the nation,” he said.

Nigeria heavily relies on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to create employment opportunities and stimulate the informal economy. According to the SMEDAN National Survey, this is achieved through approximately 41 million micro-businesses and 73,000 small and medium enterprises. Nevertheless, these businesses face several challenges in their operations.

In response, Oidi emphasized the necessity of supporting SMEs within the country, praising the NCS for its dedication to the development of these enterprises. He committed to fostering productive collaborations between government agencies and the SME ecosystem.

 “SMEDAN remains dedicated to identifying bottlenecks, designing inclusive solutions, and implementing effective strategies to support the growth of SMEs in Nigeria,” Oidi said.

He also committed to enhancing the agency's capabilities to increase the sector's contribution to the Nigerian economy.