The Nigerian government’s planned 2025 census of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has garnered widespread support from the organized private sector, recognizing its potential to inform effective policymaking and targeted interventions. Key industry stakeholders, including the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), and the National Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), have unanimously welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the crucial role of current and reliable data in fostering economic growth. This census is seen as a vital update to existing, outdated data, akin to rebasing economic figures, ensuring a more accurate representation of the MSME landscape in Nigeria.
While the initiative enjoys broad support, there’s a strong emphasis on the necessity of robust collaboration between the government and the private sector. Past experiences have demonstrated the limitations of government-led approaches, highlighting the importance of a co-creative process involving the private sector from the initial design stages through implementation and monitoring. This collaborative approach, stakeholders argue, is essential for capturing a comprehensive picture of the MSME sector, particularly the often-overlooked nano businesses that comprise a significant portion of this vital economic segment. These businesses, largely informal and unstructured, are best reached through existing private sector networks and business membership organizations, ensuring their inclusion in the data collection process.
Transparency is another critical factor highlighted by stakeholders. The call for verifiable data underscores the need for not just a final number of MSMEs, but also detailed insights into their characteristics, challenges, and potential. This transparent approach will allow for more targeted policy interventions, addressing specific issues such as access to finance, export participation, and other critical growth drivers. The census, therefore, is not merely a counting exercise, but a foundational step towards understanding and supporting the dynamic MSME ecosystem, ultimately driving economic transformation.
Concerns over data accuracy and potential biases also emerged from the discussions. The existence of conflicting data from various sources, including the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), underscores the importance of a rigorous and credible census process. Stakeholders caution against potential data inflation driven by regional interests, urging the government to implement robust mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the collected data. Leveraging existing data sources, such as the Corporate Affairs Commission’s database, is suggested as a starting point, complemented by meticulous on-the-ground data collection efforts.
Building trust between MSMEs and the government is another key concern. Historical skepticism about government data collection initiatives, often linked to fears of increased taxation, necessitates a concerted effort to reassure businesses that the census is primarily for developmental purposes. Clear communication about the objectives and benefits of the census, emphasizing its role in enabling better support programs for MSMEs, is crucial to overcoming potential reluctance to participate. This transparent and trust-building approach is vital for ensuring that the collected data is comprehensive and truly representative of the MSME sector.
Previous attempts at measuring the MSME landscape have provided valuable insights, but the upcoming census promises a more comprehensive and up-to-date picture. The 2017 National MSME Survey, conducted by SMEDAN and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), offered a glimpse into the size and distribution of MSMEs across the nation. That survey, which involved a combination of household and enterprise surveys, revealed a predominantly micro-business landscape, with millions of micro-enterprises forming the backbone of the sector. The 2025 census, by building on these earlier efforts and incorporating the recommendations from private sector stakeholders, aims to provide a more granular understanding of the MSME sector, leading to more effective and targeted policy interventions. The collaboration between the government and private sector, along with the focus on transparency and trust-building, will be crucial for the success of this important national initiative.
