NANTS Partners with World Bank to Train 200 Small-Scale Cross-Border Traders

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News Nation Media Reports that the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), an umbrella organization representing traders across Nigeria, has embarked on a significant project in collaboration with the World Bank. The initiative, part of the Trade Facilitation West Africa (TFWA) project, aims to train 200 Small-Scale Cross-Border Traders (SSCBTs) in Nigeria. 

NANTS is committed to transforming trade from a simple exchange of goods into a tool for socio-economic justice, sustainable development, and poverty reduction. With its mission to promote trade, agriculture, and economic growth, the association is taking bold steps to support entrepreneurs by influencing strategic policies and programs.

World Bank Collaboration and the TFWA Project

The training project falls under the broader TFWA initiative, which is supported by a coalition of development partners, including USAID, the Netherlands, the EU, and GMZ. Managed by the World Bank Group and the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ), TFWA’s goal is to enhance trade facilitation across West Africa. Strategic guidance for the program is provided by a Steering Committee chaired by the ECOWAS Commission, with the UEMOA Commission acting as deputy chair.

The primary goal of the training is to help SSCBTs overcome trade barriers and foster better relationships with border officials. Through this initiative, traders will gain a deeper understanding of trade rules and regulations, empowering them with knowledge of their rights.

Training Structure

The training will deal with 13 modules, developed by TFWA, and designed to run for 2 hours a day over a period of six weeks, allowing traders to balance their businesses alongside the sessions. The program began with an official ceremony in Lagos on September 10, 2024, and will conclude on October 4, 2024.

The closing ceremony will feature an interactive session where over 200 cross-border traders will engage with officials from key border agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Agriculture Quarantine Service (NAQS), the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigeria Police. The discussions will focus on overcoming obstacles that hinder the movement of goods along trade routes.

Prominent Attendees and Discussions

The event will also bring together leaders from the private sector, including representatives from the Manufacturers Association of Nigerian Traders (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), and the Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI). On the Government side, critical trade-related government institutions such as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Standards Organizations of Nigeria (SON), the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), will be in attendance. 

Additionally, key government figures such as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Minister of Women Affairs are expected to participate. These officials will collect feedback from traders and present their plans for advancing trade as a catalyst for economic growth, wealth creation, and alleviating the challenges of food inflation and the high cost of living.

This collaboration between NANTS and the World Bank highlights the critical role trade plays in driving economic development and empowering small-scale traders in Nigeria and beyond. It also seeks to establish a structure of recognition of the role small scale traders play in the economy, their value addition as well as the need for serious intervention of government in facilitating trade as a beacon of the economy.