The AfCFTA implementation scorecard launched by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Workplace highlights the numerous strides recorded below the management of the late Nationwide Coordinator, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, whose stewardship and dedication to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration helped place Nigeria as a number one participant within the African Continental Free Commerce Space (AfCFTA).
The report titled, “The Nigeria AfCFTA Consolidated Implementation Report for 2024–2025”, outlines key milestones achieved throughout the interval, together with Nigeria’s formal participation in AfCFTA buying and selling preparations, strengthened institutional coordination, and expanded engagement with the personal sector and improvement companions.
In line with the report, accessible by means of the hyperlink https://afcfta.ng/AfCFTA-2024-2025-Implementation-Report.pdf, Nigeria’s implementation journey throughout the evaluate interval, marked a decisive transition from preparatory groundwork to demonstrable execution of AfCFTA commitments, supported by improved institutional capability and enhanced stakeholder collaboration.
Commenting, the performing Nationwide Coordinator of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Workplace, Dr. Olusegun Olutayo, who was not too long ago appointed by the Presidency by means of the Workplace of the Secretary to the Authorities of the Federation (OSGF), stated the scorecard serves not solely as a document of achievements but additionally as a reaffirmation of President Tinubu’s dedication to completely harnessing the transformative potential of the AfCFTA.
In line with Dr. Olutayo, the Coordination Workplace stays targeted on strengthening institutional frameworks, increasing exporter participation, and scaling Nigeria’s commerce presence throughout African markets.
He stated the President Tinubu administration has positioned confidence within the Organized Non-public Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) and different stakeholders concerning their readiness for the AfCFTA implementation agenda.
A landmark achievement highlighted within the report was Nigeria’s participation within the AfCFTA Guided Commerce Initiative (GTI), which served as a pilot framework to facilitate preferential commerce amongst collaborating African international locations. Below this association, Nigeria efficiently executed its first AfCFTA-compliant cargo, marking a historic step within the nation’s integration into the continental buying and selling system.
The scorecard additional signifies that the Coordination Workplace strengthened commerce facilitation mechanisms and deepened engagement with essential stakeholders throughout authorities, the personal sector, and sub-national entities. These efforts targeted on selling export readiness, bettering regulatory coordination, and making certain that Nigerian companies are properly positioned to leverage alternatives throughout the AfCFTA market.
Additional, the Coordination Workplace expanded capacity-building programmes aimed toward equipping exporters, customs authorities, and regulatory businesses with data of AfCFTA guidelines and procedures, significantly the complicated Guidelines of Origin necessities that govern preferential commerce below the Bargain.
Via structured engagement with enterprise associations and commerce {groups}, the Coordination Workplace labored to determine export-ready merchandise, join Nigerian enterprises with African markets, and strengthen linkages throughout continental worth chains.
Digitalisation is one other space of progress which the report underscored with initiatives aimed toward integrating AfCFTA processes into nationwide commerce info techniques. These reforms are anticipated to boost transparency, facilitate knowledge change, and enhance the monitoring of cross-border shipments, thereby supporting a extra environment friendly commerce ecosystem.
The scorecard additionally paperwork Nigeria’s progress in operationalizing a number of AfCFTA protocols overlaying commerce in items, commerce in providers, digital commerce, funding, competitors coverage, and mental property rights. These frameworks collectively present the authorized and institutional foundation for deepening {economic} cooperation amongst African international locations.