The Enugu State Government has appealed to the Federal Government to develop robust policy measures that protect local manufacturers and enhance the capacity of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as Nigeria continues to participate in regional and international trade agreements.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Peter Mbah, Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai made the appeal during a one-day sensitisation workshop on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
Governor Mbah described the ETLS as a strategic avenue for expanding trade within West Africa but emphasised that policies must be adapted to Nigeria’s domestic context—particularly in the areas of infrastructure, credit accessibility, and institutional efficiency—if the nation is to fully harness the benefits of regional integration.
The workshop, themed “Increasing Intra-Regional Trade through ETLS,” was organised by the ECOWAS National Unit of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deepen awareness and participation in the regional trade initiative.
Commending the choice of Enugu as host, the governor highlighted the South-East region’s entrepreneurial resilience and its potential to drive economic growth through regional trade. He, however, stressed the need for government to learn from past policy shortcomings and introduce actionable reforms that genuinely empower local businesses.
“For an SME operator in Ogbete Market or Coal Camp seeking credit, loan approvals should not have to wait for clearance from Abuja,” Ossai noted. “We must decentralise financial decision-making. Development finance should be based on business viability, not rigid collateral demands.”
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He also proposed the establishment of an ECOWAS Commercial Bank to finance regional infrastructure projects and SME growth, while urging the decentralisation of approval processes in institutions such as the Bank of Industry (BOI), Bank of Agriculture (BOA), and Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) to enable quicker access to funding.
In her address, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, described the ETLS as “a cornerstone of West Africa’s integration agenda,” explaining that it promotes the free movement of goods and services and complements the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Similarly, Dr. Daniel Ochi, Director-General of the Southeast Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (SECCIMA), reaffirmed the chamber’s dedication to advancing the ETLS and mobilising regional entrepreneurs for active participation.
The event convened government officials, SME operators, trade experts, and business leaders from across the region to discuss strategies for expanding intra-regional trade and strengthening local enterprise competitiveness.
Through this collaborative engagement, Enugu State reiterated its commitment to partnering with federal and regional stakeholders to unlock trade opportunities, empower Nigerian SMEs, and promote inclusive economic growth across the West African subregion.
