Customs, SMEDAN Collaborate to Ease Cross-Border Trade

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a strategic partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) aimed at boosting local production and facilitating cross-border trade for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

During a meeting at the NCS headquarters in Abuja, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, revealed plans to establish a dedicated SMEDAN team within the NCS. This team will provide specialized assistance to SMEs, ensuring smoother processes for businesses involved in international trade.

Adeniyi emphasized the importance of SMEs to Nigeria’s economy, stating, “The population of SMEs cannot be ignored. Whatever you do with them, you do it to strengthen the economy of the nation.”

In response, SMEDAN’s Director-General and CEO, Charles Oidi, praised the NCS for their support of SME development and expressed SMEDAN’s commitment to identifying challenges and implementing solutions that will drive SME growth.

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