Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office - AfCFTA Blog by Reagan

Nigeria’s first AfCFTA Export arrives in Kenya

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 11:57:00 +0000

Nigeria’s first shipment under the African Continental Free Trade Area has arrived at Mombasa Port, Kenya.

The Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, led by Olusegun Awolowo, coordinated the shipment per the African Union’s 31st Ordinary Assembly decision mandate and said in a statement on Sunday that the country’s shipment to Kenya underscores its growing role in fostering intra-African trade and economic integration.

The shipment, which consisted of synthetic filaments produced by Lucky Fibres Limited (Lush), a subsidiary of the Tolaram Group, was exported under AfCFTA preferential trade terms. The shipment marks a significant step towards realising the vision of AfCFTA, a framework established to boost trade among African nations.

Senior Trade Expert at the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Olusegun Olutayo, described the development as a triumph for the continent.

Olutayo said, “In times of escalating geopolitical tension and looming geoeconomic fragmentation, AfCFTA presents a perfect opportunity for Africa to leverage trade as a strategic instrument for enhanced market access among state parties. This is a historic moment, a realisation of the vision of our continent’s founding fathers and mothers.”

He praised the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu, noting that they have strengthened the country’s participation in AfCFTA and advanced continental goals of industrialisation and economic integration. “These reforms have been instrumental in positioning Nigeria as a key player in the trade pact,” he added.

Olutayo also commended the Kenyan authorities for their seamless cooperation, which, according to him, exemplifies the true spirit of the AfCFTA agreement. He described the first consignment as signifying a new era of trade-driven prosperity for Africa, highlighting its potential to transform the continent’s economic landscape.

The Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office also acknowledged the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Kenya AfCFTA Implementation Committee, and the Kenya Revenue Authority, hailing their roles in ensuring the initiative’s success.

Validation Workshop in support of Women & Youth Strategy

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 01:22:00 +0000

The Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, with the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), convened a two-day validation workshop in Lagos, Nigeria, from December 10–11, 2024. The workshop aimed at advancing the participation and competitiveness of women and youth in trade under the AfCFTA.

The AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth recommends a broad framework of intervention areas by State Parties to ensure that trade works for all. These include removing cumbersome and costly regulatory compliance requirements, addressing the drivers of informal cross-border trade, deepening official export development support, improving access to finance and information for excluded groups, and leveraging opportunities offered through digital trade adoption.

The validation workshop brought together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to discuss research findings and recommended tools, platforms, and strategies for formalizing the participation of SMEs in key value chains. Professors Abiodun Folawewo and Abiodun Adewuyi, who led the team of consultants engaged on the project, presented a report analyzing the top 10 export products shipped by women and youth, as well as prototype market access guides and e-commerce platforms to stakeholders.

Mr. Femi Egbesola, Chairman of ASBON, steered participants as they deliberated on the study findings, the utility of the tools designed, and the need to deepen trade facilitation under the AfCFTA. He specifically emphasized streamlining export documentation, harmonizing certification requirements, and digitizing forms and processes to reduce compliance time and costs.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Ngone Diop, Director of UNECA’s West Africa Regional Office, described Nigeria as a powerhouse in West Africa with all it takes to drive successful AfCFTA implementation. She emphasized that women and youth, who form the backbone of the Nigerian economy, must be empowered to benefit fully from the trading framework.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Ogoegbunam Chukwurah, Export Market Development Lead at the Coordination Office, assured participants that the Coordination Office and its partners will continue to support businesses in growing and competing to take full advantage of trading opportunities under the AfCFTA.

Experts underscore role of IPRs in trade under AfCFTA

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:29:00 +0000

The National Coordinator of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Olusegun Awolowo, has called for legal protection of African creations, noting that safeguarding Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) is critical to achieving economic growth and sustainability through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He made the call on Friday 29 November 2024 at the ongoing 5th edition of the All-Africa Intellectual Property Summit 2024 organised the Africa Intellectual Property Centre (Africa’s IP Centre) under the International Trade and Research Centre (ITRC), which was held in Kigali, Rwanda.

The summit, titled Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs): The Catalyst for Sustainable Development Goals in Africa, aimed to examine the critical role of IPRs in the sustainability of international trade and innovation, as well as attempts to boost Africa’s economy.

Awolowo states, “ Protecting intellectual property rights—whether through patents for inventions, trademarks for companies, or copyrights for creative works—is pivotal to unlocking Africa’s economic potential”.

He argued that entrepreneurial creations can only thrive in an environment with a strong intellectual property framework that encourages African startups to take on more risks and opportunities.

Awolowo said: “ The future of Africa’s economic condition rests squarely on our ability to safeguard these intellectual assets, fostering a culture of creativity and innovation that drives prosperity”.

“ The link between IP and job creation is undeniable, as a thriving innovation ecosystem generates employment and drives economic growth,” Awolowo said.

Proffering strategic solutions to challenging hindering good IPRs system in Africa, Awolowo called for, “Establish a unified, continent-wide framework for intellectual property protection, ensuring alignment with AfCFTA objectives and fostering harmonization among African states”.

Further, he urged stakeholders to invest in training programs to deepen expertise in intellectual property law, enforcement, and innovation management across Africa.

During a panel discussion, Olusegun Olutayo, Senior Trade Policy and Law Expert/Lead at the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, advocated for an African Intellectual Property (IP) regime that allows innovative minds to file patents for inventions, trademarks for brands, or copyrights for creative works in Nigeria while still being recognised and accepted in South Africa or any other part of Africa, stating that AfCFTA has capacity to guaranteed this.

Olusegun Olutayo, Senior Trade Policy and Law Expert/Lead at the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, speaking on 29th November 2024 at the 5th edition of the All-Frica Intellectual Property Summit 2024 held in Kigali Rwanda.

Olutayo also urged for the harmonisation of all IP systems and legislation at all national levels, as envisaged in the AfCFTA Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights and with its Annexes to be concluded in 2025.

He informed delegates at the international summit that all IP must be driven with commercialization value in order to be useful and align with the AfCFTA’s aim of achieving sustainable economic development.

Nigeria Recommits to Regional Trade as AfCFTA Forum Holds in Rwanda

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 11:57:00 +0000

The Nigerian Government as a State Party has reassured its commitment to deepening regional trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which promises to improve continental integration, create jobs, and increase export earnings.

The National Coordinator, Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Olusegun Awolowo, gave the country’s reassurance at the ongoing second edition of the AfCFTA Business Forum, branded Biashara Afrika 2024, holding in Kigali, Rwanda.

Awolowo said Nigeria’s recent inaugural flag off of shipment from Apapa ports in Lagos to selected African countries under the AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative (GTI), demonstrates the country’s commitment to forging a viable intra-Africa trade agreement.

Speaking on the sidelines of the trade summit, the representative of the National Coordinator, Olusegun Olutayo, Senior Trade Expert/Lead, Trade Enablement, Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, stated that Nigeria has stepped up to take pride in trade as one of the continent’s largest economy with the most active market population.

The three-day summit, which began on Wednesday 9th October, 2024, featured a keynote address by Rwanda President Paul Kagame, who expressed confidence in the AfCFTA as a trade game changer for the African continent.

Biashara Afrika 2024, themed ”Dare to Invent the Future of the AfCFTA,” sought to boost African trade and economic progress by providing an engaging and vibrant platform for continued dialogue between African governments and private sector players, multinationals, and key stakeholders.

Addressing the delegates and businesses, AfCFTA Secretary-General, HE Wamkele Mene praised state parties for their renewed commitment to deepening intra-Africa trade, saying that the increase in the number of countries actively trading under the GTI /AfCFTA regime is a significant achievement.

Mene pointed out: “The Guided Trade Initiative, which facilitates the flow of goods among African states, has expanded participation from seven to 39 countries. This raises signals growing commitment across the continent, with an increasing number of small-scale traders, including women, benefiting from new market opportunities ,” he said.

Nigeria records first shipment four years after AfCFTA nod

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:29:00 +0000

Nigeria has demonstrated readiness to raise its productivity level and lift the manufacturing sector, with the first shipment under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The shipment is expected to bolster continental trade and enable Africa’s most populous nation to leverage the AfCFTA opportunity.

With a combined population of 1.3 billion and a GDP of about $3.4 trillion, trade between African countries holds huge potential for Nigeria to actualise its industrialization and economic diversification targets.

Speaking at the launch of the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) and Nigeria’s inaugural shipment under AfCFTA protocol, President Bola Tinubu, said AfCFTA is not just a trade agreement but a bold vision for Africa’s industrialization, equitable growth, and prosperity of Nigerians.

Represented by George Akume, secretary to the Government of the Federation, Tinubu said Nigerians must embrace challenges ahead with enthusiasm and readiness to tackle them headlong in the interest of collective survival.

“The strategy to be deployed will include the creation of an enabling environment that supports businesses, encourages innovation, and fosters competitiveness. There will also be close collaboration with our continental partners to ensure the benefits of AfCFTA are equitably distributed,” he said.

According to Mr President, Nigeria must be prepared to be innovative, and efficient and strive to excel as trade has inherently become highly competitive and Nigeria we cannot become complacent.

Also speaking, Olusegun Awolowo, national coordinator of the AfCFTA Coordination Office, said each member state comprising 54 countries will leverage comparative advantages to achieve over $50 billion in intra-Africa trade under the AfCFTA.

He urged Nigerians to seize the opportunity offered by AfCFTA to grow the country’s production and productivity and to build an army of exporters.

He said the Federal Government has approved the transformation of the National Action Committee on the AfCFTA (NAC-AfCFTA) to a Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office (NACO) with authority to deliver on the nation’s desired outcomes.

Giving a breakdown of the first shipment under AfCFTA protocol, Awolowo disclosed that about 10 exporters will be shipping Nigerian products to five countries across East, Central, and North Africa sub-regions.

“The companies include Dangote, Tolaram Group, Flour Mills Nigeria, Hwani Industry Nigeria Limited and among others. They will be exporting various made-in-Nigeria products including bags, smart cards, black soap, alcoholic bitters, shea butter, native starch, and water closet sanitary,” Awolowo said.

He added that the products will be exported to Egypt, Algeria, Uganda, Cameroon, and Kenya.

Meanwhile, Doris Uzoka-Anite, minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said the launch will create a single market for goods and services in Africa, and drive economic diversification, job creation, and economic growth.

Uzoka-Anite said the AfCFTA holds immense promise for thriving industrialisation. “We must all join hands to ensure that AfCFTA delivers economic prosperity and growth for the people,” she said.

Adewale Adeniyi, comptroller general of Customs, said Nigeria joined the AfCFTA in 2020, aiming to facilitate cross-border trade within Africa.

He said the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is a key member of the National Action Committee responsible for issuing certificates of origin and streamlining export cargo clearance.

Represented by CK Niagwan, deputy comptroller of Customs in charge of tariff and trade, the Customs boss said AfCFTA participation will open new business and economic growth opportunities for Nigeria and strengthen African relationships.

He disclosed that due to delays in phase one, some African nations like Rwanda and Ghana have begun trading and that Nigeria studied the best practices of both countries to prepare for phase two participation.

“The NCS is prepared to fulfil its role as the Designated Competent Authority (DCA) and has taken actions including training of officers on AfCFTA rules of origin in collaboration with WTO experts; preparing and issuing certificates of origin (both paper and electronic formats; deploying officers trained in AfCFTA export procedures and designating specialised Customs ports for faster export clearance,” he explained.

Wale Edun, minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, said the launch is a clear signal to the world that Nigeria is ready to take its rightful place in the continental and global trade arena.

He said Nigeria is opening up new avenues for businesses to expand, innovate, and compete on a larger scale by embracing the AfCFTA.

“Allowing commercially meaningful trading under the AfCFTA through this initiative will not only boost our exports but also attract foreign direct investment, create jobs, and enhance our overall economic resilience,” he said.