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By Uche Usim
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) has reflected on 2025 and submitted that Nigeria significantly strengthened Africa’s single market ambition and recorded major milestones that reaffirm its leadership in advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and driving trade-led economic integration across the continent.
A statement from Obilor-Duru Augustina Okechi,
Head, Press & Public Relations of the ministry stated that the Minister, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, intensified AfCFTA implementation through a series of coordinated institutional, policy and market-focused actions designed to translate continental commitments into measurable economic outcomes.
The AfCFTA embodies Africa’s long-held aspiration to create a unified market anchored on progressive tariff liberalisation, the elimination of non-tariff barriers and stronger regulatory cooperation. At its core is a shared recognition that Africa’s economic transformation depends on trading more within the continent, building regional value chains and retaining value locally. Nigeria, historically central to Africa’s integration journey and host to foundational frameworks such as the Lagos Plan of Action and the Abuja Treaty, has renewed and strengthened its commitment to this vision.
The statement added that in 2025, FMITI reinvigorated Nigeria’s AfCFTA agenda with decisive steps to deepen engagement, improve coordination and unlock opportunities for Nigerian businesses. Early in the year, Nigeria hosted the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat alongside Nigerian digital operators, reinforcing collaboration between continental institutions and the private sector. In recognition of Nigeria’s growing leadership in the digital economy, the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government appointed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as Co-Champion of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, commending the country’s role in shaping Africa’s digital trade future.
To strengthen delivery and ensure coherence, Nigeria inaugurated the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee, establishing a whole-of-economy framework that brings together key public and private sector stakeholders. This mechanism has enhanced clarity of roles, accountability and policy alignment across institutions responsible for AfCFTA implementation, ensuring a more effective and coordinated national response.
Nigeria also advanced the operationalisation of its AfCFTA obligations. The country gazetted its Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions for Trade in Goods, enabling Nigerian products to enjoy preferential access across AfCFTA State Parties while extending reciprocal preferences to goods originating from Africa. In addition, Nigeria submitted its Schedule of Specific Commitments for Trade in Services to the ECOWAS Commission, marking steady progress toward the progressive liberalisation of priority services sectors under the Agreement.
Recognising the transformative potential of digital trade, Nigeria approved the ratification of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, positioning Nigerian digital products and services to compete more effectively across African markets under clearer and more predictable regulatory protections. This commitment was reinforced by the first-ever national mapping of digital services, which produced a comprehensive directory of Nigerian digital firms across multiple sectors. The exercise also underpinned Nigeria’s leadership in convening a regional digital trade market access and regulators’ roundtable with key African partners.
Beyond regulatory milestones, FMITI prioritised practical interventions to equip Nigerian businesses to compete successfully in the AfCFTA market.
A dedicated export air cargo corridor to East and Southern Africa was launched in partnership with Uganda Airlines and the United Nations Development Programme, significantly reducing logistics costs and improving access to new markets. In parallel, market intelligence tools covering selected goods and sectors across multiple African markets were developed to support data-driven business decisions and export readiness.
Nigeria further consolidated its continental influence by securing hosting rights for several major AfCFTA-related convenings, including the AfCFTA Digital Forum, Creative Africa Nexus 2026, the Intra-African Trade Fair 2027, and the 2026 meeting of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers. These achievements underscore Nigeria’s role not only as a participant, but as a convener, facilitator and champion of intra-African trade.
In line with AfCFTA provisions, Nigeria became the first State Party to conclude and publish a comprehensive five-year review of AfCFTA implementation. This objective self-assessment has informed corrective actions and sharpened strategic priorities. Complementing this effort, Nigeria convened the AfCFTA Public Sector, Private Sector and Press Summit, fostering a shared understanding of the Agreement and launching a nationwide sensitisation and consultation process aimed at ensuring AfCFTA delivers tangible benefits for Nigerians.
The ministry noted that that year, Nigeria’s AfCFTA agenda will focus on deepening regulatory alignment, strengthening institutional coordination, expanding trade data systems and intensifying engagement with states, local governments and the private sector. These priorities are designed to mobilise domestic production, boost exports, attract investment and position Nigeria as a leading innovation, production and distribution hub within the AfCFTA market.
