The Federal Government of Nigeria has completed its first five-year implementation review of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), marking a significant milestone in the country’s commitment to intra-African trade and economic integration.
The comprehensive review, aligned with Article 28 of the AfCFTA Agreement, assessed Nigeria’s implementation of key trade protocols and commitments under the landmark continental agreement.
The process was spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Africa.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, who initiated the review, described the assessment as critical for tracking progress, identifying institutional gaps, and strengthening Nigeria’s readiness for deeper engagement in the continental market.
“Our unwavering commitment to the implementation of the AfCFTA is rooted in the conviction that continental economic integration, driven by trade, is essential for Africa’s collective prosperity and global competitiveness,” Oduwole said.
She emphasized Nigeria’s strategic position as a potential innovation, production, and trade hub within the AfCFTA, reaffirming the country’s ambition to lead Africa’s economic transformation.
The review focused on Nigeria’s implementation of the AfCFTA Framework Agreement and Phase I Protocols, including Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, and the Protocol on Rules and Procedures on the Settlement of Disputes.
Each participating Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA) assessed its institutional alignment, capacity needs, and progress in implementation. The findings culminated in actionable policy recommendations to improve coordination, address logistical constraints, and align national policies with AfCFTA objectives.
Dr. Oduwole noted three key lessons from the review process: The scale and complexity of AfCFTA require a coordinated, multistakeholder approach; Strategic investments in institutional capacity are vital and Innovation and data-driven policymaking must underpin Nigeria’s trade strategy.
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The review was facilitated by the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee (CCC), established in March 2025, comprising over 20 critical MDAs and representatives of the private sector. The CCC serves as the national platform for coordinating AfCFTA implementation, negotiations, and domestication.
The minister said the review supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises non-oil export diversification and Nigeria’s active participation in the continental trade framework.
“We are not just reviewing for the sake of compliance,” she explained. “The recommendations from this review will shape the CCC’s work programme, establish performance benchmarks, and fine-tune our national implementation strategy.”
She added that Nigeria will next undertake a forward-looking review of Phase II Protocols, which cover Investment, Intellectual Property Rights, Competition Policy, Digital Trade, and Women and Youth in Trade.
In her foreword to the report, Oduwole thanked the UNDP and the AfCFTA CCC for their technical support and strategic contributions. She also encouraged other AfCFTA state parties to conduct similar reviews, pledging Nigeria’s readiness to share experiences and technical expertise across the continent.
“Nigeria will continue to lead with vision, expertise, and resolve,” the minister stated. “Our objective is clear—to ensure that the AfCFTA serves as a catalyst for economic transformation and sustainable development, not just for Nigerians but for all Africans.”
