The Federal Government has unveiled plans to scale up support for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises in 2026, following the disbursement of 200 million dollars to small businesses and exporters in 2025.
Through the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, the government said it would conduct a National MSME Census in 2026 to strengthen its database, improve targeting of incentives, and deepen access to finance. The move comes after more than 115,000 MSMEs benefited from grants, loans, and trade finance interventions last year.
According to the ministry’s 2026 outlook, the 200 million dollars was disbursed through the Bank of Industry and the Nigerian Export Import Bank, while additional support was provided in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
The Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, described 2025 as a turning point in Nigeria’s trade and industrial journey. She said total capital importation rose to about 21 billion dollars in the first 10 months of 2025, compared to 12.3 billion dollars in 2024 and 3.9 billion dollars in 2023.
On trade performance, she disclosed that Nigeria recorded total trade of 113.03 trillion naira in the first three quarters of 2025, with exports valued at 66.16 trillion naira, representing an 11 percent year on year increase and sustaining a positive trade balance.
Oduwole attributed the gains to reforms including the gazetting of Nigeria’s AfCFTA tariff schedule and export facilitation measures. She added that non oil exports exceeded 6 billion dollars, while freight costs fell by about 50 percent and export processing time dropped to under 24 hours.
The Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, stressed that reliable MSME data is critical for planning and execution, warning that fragmentation across agencies slows industrial progress.
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