An agriculture expert has called on the Nigerian government to take advantage of the $3.4 trillion economic bloc that the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) would provide.

Specifically, he said Nigeria has not been positioned as a ‘real’ stakeholder of agro-export under the AfCFTA agreement.

This is despite the talks around the potentials of AfCFTA to lift millions of people out of poverty and end food insecurity on the African continent.

Speaking on a radio programme , the Chairman of the Nigeria Agro Committee on AfCTA, Captain John Okakpu, emphasised the importance of government policies in leveraging opportunities of AfCFTA.

According to him, the effectiveness and implementation of government policies, especially in the agricultural sector would determine the country’s participation and gain from AfCFTA.

Meanwhile, reports had shown that trade between African nations in agricultural products remained below 20 per cent of Africa’s total agricultural trade, which is one of the lowest in any region.

source agronigeria