The Federal Government has declared Nigeria fully ready to trade under the preferential terms of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the country has met all key requirements under the agreement. She confirmed that Nigeria has gazetted the legal instruments covering trade in goods, trade in services and digital trade.
Oduwole disclosed this during the presentation of the Nigeria AfCFTA Achievements Report 2025.
She said the move positions Nigerian businesses to enjoy improved market access and preferential treatment across Africa.
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According to the minister, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) has launched strategic initiatives to prepare Nigerian businesses for continental competition.
She described the AfCFTA as the highest point of Africa’s long journey toward trade-led economic integration.
“The AfCFTA Agreement reflects Africa’s commitment to integration through tariff reduction, removal of trade barriers and regulatory cooperation,” Oduwole said.
She stressed that African countries retain more value when they trade among themselves. As a result, she said Africa’s development goals depend heavily on the success of the AfCFTA market.
Oduwole described Nigeria as a leading force in Africa’s regional integration drive.
She recalled that Nigeria hosted and produced several foundational trade frameworks that now support the AfCFTA. These include the Lagos Plan of Action of 1980 and the Abuja Treaty of 1991.
She also noted that AfCFTA negotiations concluded in Nigeria in 2017. Nigeria signed the AfCFTA Agreement in 2019 and ratified it in 2020.
The minister said the Federal Government reinvigorated AfCFTA implementation in 2025 through the FMITI.
She listed several milestones achieved within the year. Nigeria became the first AfCFTA State Party to conduct a five-year implementation review. The country also ratified the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.
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In addition, Nigeria established a dedicated AfCFTA air cargo export corridor to support cross-border trade.
The report revealed that Nigeria concluded and published its five-year AfCFTA implementation review by July 2025, in line with Article 28 of the agreement.
The review assessed challenges, identified policy gaps and highlighted progress made so far.
According to the report, the findings now guide key actions by the FMITI and the AfCFTA National Coordination Committee as Nigeria deepens its participation in the continental free trade market.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
