The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand value-added exports and deepen intra-African trade.
The minister made this known at the AfCFTA Public, Private, and Press (P3) Sub-national Engagement for the North-West geopolitical zone held in Kano on Monday.
Oduwole stated that Nigeria’s participation in the agreement is both strategic and necessary, noting that the country has recorded measurable progress since ratifying AfCFTA in 2020.
She highlighted key milestones, including the inauguration of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee, the gazetting of tariff concessions, and Nigeria’s designation as co-champion of Digital Trade.
Other achievements, according to her, include the launch of an Export Air Cargo Corridor to East and Southern Africa, which has reduced logistics costs by up to 75 percent.
According to the minister, the Kano engagement represents a shift from policy awareness to practical implementation, driven by several targeted initiatives.
These initiatives include the “One Local Government, One Export Product” scheme, on-site regulatory services for exporters, and live simulations of export procedures.
Oduwole noted that intra-African trade currently accounts for less than 20 percent of Africa’s total trade, compared to over 60 percent in Europe and Asia.
She emphasized that Nigeria’s objective is to increase its share by transitioning from the export of raw commodities to value-added goods and services.
She further explained that the Public, Private, and Press (P3) framework adopted in Kano is designed to simplify AfCFTA processes, localize information, and deliver practical support directly to exporters.
This includes support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), women-led businesses, and operators in the informal sector.
The minister added that the Kano pilot programme would serve as a proof of concept for nationwide implementation across all six geopolitical zones.
She said this would position Nigeria as a leading hub for industrialization, job creation, and economic transformation under AfCFTA.
Earlier, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chris Osa, commended the Kano State Government for hosting the initiative.
He noted Kano’s historic role as a hub of commerce and cross-border trade.
Osa also acknowledged the participation of governors and delegates from Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.
He stressed that the success of trade policy depends heavily on effective implementation at the subnational level.
He described AfCFTA as a transformative opportunity for Nigeria to diversify its economy, expand non-oil exports, and strengthen regional value chains.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mrs. Patience Okala, highlighted Nigeria’s leadership role in driving the agreement.
She emphasized that AfCFTA must translate into real opportunities for businesses across the country.
Okala commended the Kano State Government for hosting the pilot initiative, noting the city’s longstanding reputation as a commercial hub.
She stated that AfCFTA offers Nigerian businesses—from large corporations to small traders—access to a $3.4 trillion market of 1.4 billion people.
According to her, this presents a major opportunity to shift Nigeria’s economy from exporting raw materials to producing value-added goods and services.
She explained that the Kano engagement is designed to guide businesses through AfCFTA processes, simplify trade procedures, and connect Nigerian suppliers with buyers across Africa.
She also announced the unveiling of AfCFTA simplification tools known as “The ABC Series of Doing Business under AfCFTA,” published in English, Hausa, and Arabic.
In his remarks, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf described Kano as Africa’s historic commercial hub and a natural gateway for continental trade.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk-Ibrahim, the governor stated that Kano is ready to fully harness AfCFTA opportunities through industrialization, logistics expansion, and SME development.
“AFCFTA must work for the trader in our markets, the processor in our industries, and the youth in our ICT hubs,” he said.
