Customs, SMEDAN move to ease cross-border trade 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has expressed its willingness to partner with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to boost trade, encourage local production and ease cross-border trade.

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, made this known when he received the Director-General (DG) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SMEDAN, Charles Oidi, and his team at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja.

The CGC stated that a dedicated SMEDAN team will be established at the NCS office to provide specialised assistance and facilitate seamless processes for small and medium-sized businesses 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. Responding, the DG/CEO of SMEDAN, Oidi, commended the CGC for his commitment to SMEs development, pledging to continue facilitating productive interactions 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,” he stated.