The Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office has said that Nigeria has made notable progress in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting National Coordinator of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Olusegun Olutayo, on Sunday.
According to the statement, an AfCFTA implementation scorecard released by the office highlighted the strides recorded under the leadership of the late Olusegun Awolowo, whose efforts helped position Nigeria as a key participant in the continental trade agreement.
The statement noted that Awolowo’s leadership and commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration played a significant role in advancing Nigeria’s participation in the AfCFTA framework.
The report, titled “The Nigeria AfCFTA Consolidated Implementation Report for 2024–2025,” outlined several milestones achieved during the period, including Nigeria’s formal participation in AfCFTA trading arrangements, improved institutional coordination and expanded engagement with the private sector and development partners.
According to the report, Nigeria’s implementation journey during the period marked a transition from the preparatory stage to actual execution of AfCFTA commitments, supported by stronger institutional capacity and better collaboration with stakeholders.
Commenting on the development, Olutayo said the scorecard not only documents achievements but also reflects the administration’s commitment to fully harnessing the opportunities provided by the continental trade agreement.
“The scorecard serves not only as a record of achievements but also as a reaffirmation of President Tinubu’s commitment to fully harnessing the transformative potential of the AfCFTA,” he said.
He added that the Coordination Office remains focused on strengthening institutional frameworks, expanding the participation of Nigerian exporters and increasing the country’s trade presence across African markets.
Olutayo further noted that the Tinubu administration has expressed confidence in the Organized Private Sector of Nigeria and other stakeholders regarding their readiness to support the AfCFTA implementation agenda.
The statement highlighted Nigeria’s participation in the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) as one of the major achievements recorded during the review period.
“The initiative serves as a pilot framework designed to facilitate preferential trade among participating African countries.”
Under the arrangement, Nigeria successfully carried out its first AfCFTA-compliant shipment, marking what the report described as a historic step in the country’s integration into the continental trading system.
The report also indicated that the Coordination Office strengthened trade facilitation mechanisms and deepened engagement with stakeholders across government institutions, the private sector and sub-national entities.
These engagements, according to the statement, focused on promoting export readiness, improving regulatory coordination and ensuring that Nigerian businesses are well positioned to benefit from opportunities within the AfCFTA market.
It added that the office expanded capacity-building programmes aimed at equipping exporters, customs officials and regulatory agencies with a better understanding of AfCFTA rules and procedures, particularly the Rules of Origin requirements that determine eligibility for preferential trade under the agreement.
The statement further noted that the Coordination Office worked with business associations and trade groups to identify export-ready products, connect Nigerian businesses with markets across Africa and strengthen value chain linkages on the continent.
In addition, the report highlighted progress in digitalisation, with initiatives aimed at integrating AfCFTA processes into Nigeria’s national trade information systems.
According to the statement, these reforms are expected to enhance transparency, improve data exchange and strengthen the monitoring of cross-border shipments, thereby supporting a more efficient trade ecosystem.
The report also documented Nigeria’s progress in implementing several AfCFTA protocols covering trade in goods, trade in services, digital trade, investment, competition policy and intellectual property rights.
It noted that these frameworks provide the legal and institutional foundation for deeper economic cooperation among African countries under the AfCFTA agreement.