The Federal Government has completed its first five-year implementation review of the African Continental Free Trade Area, marking a critical step in Nigeria’s quest to unlock the full benefits of intra-African trade and position the country as a regional economic powerhouse.
The assessment, which aligns with Article 28 of the AfCFTA Agreement, evaluates Nigeria’s progress in implementing key protocols and commitments under the agreement.
It was coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, with technical and financial support from the United Nations Development Programme Regional Bureau for Africa.
According to a statement made available to newsmen, the review underscores Nigeria’s leadership in regional integration and its commitment to building a diversified, inclusive and globally competitive economy.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, who initiated the review process, said the assessment was essential to measure progress, identify gaps, and strengthen Nigeria’s institutional readiness for deeper trade integration across Africa.
The review followed the establishment of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee in March 2025.
The committee, inaugurated by Dr Oduwole, comprises over 20 key Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as representatives from the private sector.
It serves as the national platform for the coordination of implementation, negotiations, and domestication of AfCFTA obligations.
The review focused on Nigeria’s progress with the AfCFTA Framework Agreement and Phase I Protocols, which include Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, and the Protocol on Rules and Procedures on the Settlement of Disputes.
Each participating MDA assessed its institutional alignment, capacity needs, and implementation performance, culminating in a set of concrete and actionable policy recommendations.
