Nigeria Inaugurates Committee to Drive AfCFTA Implementation

The Nigerian government has inaugurated a high-level committee to ensure the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost trade and economic growth.

Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, inaugurated the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee in Abuja on Tuesday, emphasising its role in advancing Nigeria’s strategic engagement with AfCFTA.

She highlighted that the committee comprises both government and private sector stakeholders, underscoring the agreement’s significance as one of Africa’s most transformative trade and economic initiatives.

Dr. Oduwole described AfCFTA as more than just a trade agreement, calling it a visionary framework for integration, prosperity, and inclusive growth across the continent.

Today, I inaugurated the National AfCFTA Implementation Committee to strengthen Nigeria’s role in the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The committee will drive collaboration, streamline negotiations, and advance AfCFTA implementation for economic growth. pic.twitter.com/x0GKHWE2H1

— Dr Jumoke Oduwole (@joduwole) March 25, 2025

“With a market value of 1.4 billion people and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 3.4 trillion dollars, AfCFTA offers Nigeria and, indeed, the whole of Africa, an unprecedented opportunity to reposition itself in a global economy.

“In advancing Nigeria’s implementation of the AfCFTA, we have been acknowledged regionally and globally for this impressive prioritisation.

“The work ahead of us is both urgent and essential. The world is watching how Africa rises, and Nigeria must lead by example,” the minister said.

She said that the AfCFTA agreement was signed in March 2018 and officially came into force in May 2019, giving momentum to Africa’s already dynamic investment and trade landscape.

Oduwole said that the agreement was a pivotal step toward establishing a single continental market for goods and services, with goals that included facilitating investment and trade.

According to her, it will promote sustainable and inclusive development, adapt gender policy and structural transformation, enhance competitiveness, and stimulate industrial development across African economies.

“To achieve these goals, the agreement has been structured around several protocols. The first protocol, phase one, includes trading goods, trading services, and business development procedures.

“While the phase two protocols involved investment, intellectual property rights, competition policy, digital trade, women and youth in trade,” she said.

Oduwole said that the President had directed her to coordinate diverse information on the AfCFTA agreement to strengthen the important mandate and ensure coordinated strategic implementation.

She urged all the committees and other relevant stakeholders to be committed to ensuring a strong and effective implementation of AfCFTA.

“We will hold each other accountable as we create a roadmap for Nigeria’s implementation, and we will speak to see what we are going to be able to deliver, even this year.

“We will track transparency to make sure that what we are going to deliver will bring a great achievement,” the minister said.

Mrs Nonye Ayeni, the Director-General of the Nigeria Exports Promotion Council (NEPC), who spoke on behalf of the committee, said that the committee members would be committed and focused to ensure positive results.

Also, the Special Adviser to the Minister, Mrs Patience Okala, said that AfCFTA was aimed at creating job opportunities and boosting the economy on the continent.

NAN