Under the visionary leadership of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria has completed a comprehensive five-year review of its engagement with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), reinforcing the nation’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade and positioning itself as a pivotal economic force within the continent.
Conducted in strict compliance with Article 28 of the AfCFTA Agreement, the evaluation meticulously assessed Nigeria’s progress in implementing key treaty protocols. The initiative aligns closely with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes economic diversification away from oil dependency and enhanced participation in continental trade frameworks.
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, under the leadership of Minister Jumoke Oduwole, coordinated the review with essential technical and financial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Africa. This assessment is a testament to the administration’s dedication to regional integration as a core pillar of Nigeria’s development strategy.
Dr. Oduwole highlighted the critical nature of the review, stating, “Our unwavering commitment to the implementation of the AfCFTA is rooted in the conviction that continental economic integration, driven by trade, is essential for Africa’s collective prosperity and global competitiveness.”
She also noted President Tinubu’s direct influence on the process: “This review is an important part of the Renewed Hope Agenda’s focus on non-oil export diversification and institutional reforms that will prepare Nigeria for greater engagement in Africa’s continental market.”
The AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee (CCC), launched in March 2025 by Dr. Oduwole, serves as the national hub for steering Nigeria’s AfCFTA commitments. The committee includes representatives from over 20 ministries, departments, agencies, and private sector bodies, demonstrating the administration’s multi-sectoral approach to trade integration.
The review scrutinized Nigeria’s compliance with the Framework Agreement and the initial Phase I Protocols — encompassing trade in goods, trade in services, and dispute settlement procedures. Each ministry and agency examined its institutional alignment, capacity constraints, and implementation effectiveness, resulting in targeted policy recommendations.
From the process, Dr. Oduwole distilled three key lessons relevant to President Tinubu’s broader economic reforms: the necessity of a coordinated multi-stakeholder approach; strategic investments aimed at institutional capacity building; and the imperative of innovation, agility, and data-driven policymaking.
Challenges such as policy inconsistencies and logistical bottlenecks were identified, with the administration pledging reforms to overcome these obstacles in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s objectives.
“This review is not just a compliance exercise,” Dr. Oduwole stressed. “Its outcomes will guide the CCC’s strategic plans, create institutional performance benchmarks, and fine-tune the national policy framework to meet the ambitions set forth by President Tinubu’s administration.”
Looking ahead, Nigeria aims to conduct further evaluations of Phase II Protocols related to investment, intellectual property protection, competition policy, digital trade, and the enhanced inclusion of women and youth in trade activities.
Dr. Oduwole extended a call to other AfCFTA member states to undertake similar reviews, emphasizing Nigeria’s readiness to share knowledge and expertise in the spirit of African solidarity and collective progress.
“Nigeria will continue to lead with vision, expertise and resolve under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership,” she affirmed. “Our shared objective is to ensure the AfCFTA serves as a dynamic engine for economic transformation and sustainable development across the continent.”
This review encapsulates the administration’s strategic drive to integrate Nigeria’s economy more deeply with Africa’s burgeoning trade opportunities, reinforcing the Renewed Hope Agenda’s long-term vision for inclusive growth and diversification beyond oil revenue.