FG to conduct MSMEs census in 2025 – Minister

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment has announced plans to conduct a nationwide census of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in 2025, as part of its economic growth and industrial transformation strategy.

The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, revealed this in the FMITI 2025 outlook document which outlined the ministry’s key priorities for the new year.

Oduwole, along with the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, described the census as a critical step toward “conducting a nationwide census to establish a precise, data-driven roadmap for empowering MSMEs.”

Oduwole described 2025 as a pivotal year for the country’s economic diversification efforts, promising measurable impacts through policy reforms and strategic initiatives.

“The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment has commenced a new chapter in driving Nigeria’s economic diversification by implementing targeted policies and reforms to accelerate industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing, and innovation,” Oduwole said.

She added that the ministry will remain focused on strengthening trade policy implementation, fostering private-sector competitiveness, and ensuring businesses thrive in local and global markets. “Our goal is to facilitate the creation of wealth, productive jobs, and shared prosperity for all Nigerians,” she noted.

Highlighting the ministry’s 2025 outlook, Oduwole stated that FMITI’s initiatives will focus on three critical areas: economic diversification, trade revenue growth, and investment mobilisation.

FMITI will accelerate industrialisation by engaging initiatives including rehabilitating export processing zones, prioritising intellectual property protection, and promoting tech and artificial intelligence for trade and investment.

According to the FMITI 2025 outlook, the ministry aims to ensure exportable food products meet international safety standards in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.

Further, the ministry noted it plans to revise the country’s trade and investment strategies to support an export-led economy.

Oduwole emphasised the African Continental Free Trade Area to champion trade and enter preferential trade agreements with key countries to boost foreign exchange earnings.

She stated that the ministry’s efforts will focus on retaining domestic investors, modernising the regulatory framework, establishing sub-national One-Stop Investment Centers and launching an investment portal to track and promote investment flows holistically.

Oduwole assured stakeholders of the ministry’s commitment to transparent communication and collaboration, adding “FMITI will share periodic updates on its performance, as independently verified by the Central Delivery Coordinating Unit.”

Moreover, the Minister of State for Industry, Enoh, shared his vision for the industrial sector, focusing on competitiveness, innovation, and sustainable growth.

Among the ministry’s priorities is unlocking the potential of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan to foster local manufacturing.

Enoh also highlighted plans to expand the Special Agro-Processing Zones and revitalise the Cotton, Textile, and Garment sectors to enhance exports creating millions of jobs.

Additionally, the ministry noted it plans to advance the country’s self-sufficiency in petrochemical, chemical, and pharmaceutical manufacturing through strategic investments.

Senator Enoh emphasised the importance of the Industrial Revolution Work Group, a task force dedicated to reengineering the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan for sustainable industrialisation.