ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMES) IN NIGERIA

The study aims at assessing the problems and prospects of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to: identify and assessthe key factors responsible for the relatively low performance and failure of the SMEs survival; investigate the reasons why programmes designed by government to boost manufacturing SMEs performance do not effectively achieve its role; make appropriate recommendation towards alleviating the problems facing SMEs; identify ways and means, which will establish and sustain the vibrancy for Nigerian SMEs. Primarysources of data collection where questionnaire was distributed to respondent which was used to test the hypothesis of the study using chi-square. The study revealed that policies implemented for SMEs have a positive relationship on the survivalof SMEs in Nigeria and there is prospect in SMEs in Nigeria. It is recommended that: the government should establish SME clusters in relevant sectors in areas that have comparative advantage for such sectors such as Auto Parts Cluster in Nnewi, Leather Products Cluster in Kano, Apple Processing Cluster in Plateau, Export Clusters for Cocoa in Ondo, Cashew Crushing Plant in Oghe, etc; the government through the Central Bank of Nigeria should establish the much-awaited National Credit Guarantee Scheme for SMEs, which should guarantee at least 80 percent of loans needed by small and medium enterprises in Nigeria; the government should tackle accelerated development and upgrade of rural/urban road and rail network, water and air transport system and other infrastructural facilities head on and review tariff in favour of local manufacturers especially the SMEs.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as defined by the National Council of Industries refer to business enterprises whose total costs excluding land is not more than two hundred million naira(N200,000,000.00)only. It has been argued that SMEs are an effective instrument for economic growth and development in Developed and Less Developed Countries (Beyene, 2002; Nitani, 2005). This is because SMEs contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and produce substantial amounts of locally consumed products (ECA, 2000; Wattanapruttipaisan, 2003; Tagoe et al, 2005; Saleh and Ndubisi, 2016). According to Mojmir (2010), SMEs play an important role in the economic growth of any country including industrialised countries because they account for more than half of a country‟s output and employment (Hussain et al, 2008). In the same vein, Udechukwu (2013) asserts that the development of SMEs is an essential element in the growth strategy of most economies, which holds particular significance for developing countries like Nigeria. SMEs are a vital part of any market economy because they are represented in all major branches of manufacturing and service sectors (Obokoh, 2014). This is in addition to their role in job creation for the unemployed, provision of goods and services within and across national boundaries of countries (Saleh and Ndubisi 2006; Woldie et al, 2014)