14th January 2026
The Federal Government has positioned Nigeria as a leading force in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), citing a series of landmark achievements in 2025 that underscore the country’s commitment to trade-led regional integration. Under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, headed by Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria undertook a comprehensive revitalisation of its AfCFTA engagement, securing multiple continental firsts and strategic recognitions.
A major milestone was Nigeria’s completion and publication of the AfCFTA’s mandatory five-year implementation review in July 2025, making it the first state party to meet this obligation. The self-assessment, required under Article 28 of the AfCFTA Agreement, informed subsequent policy actions and demonstrated Nigeria’s readiness for transparent and rules-based continental trade.
Digital trade emerged as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s AfCFTA strategy. President Bola Tinubu was appointed co-champion of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade alongside Kenya and South Africa, while Nigeria became the first country to ratify the protocol in November 2025. Complementary initiatives included a national mapping of over 200 digital services firms, the creation of a regional regulators’ working group, and the convening of Africa’s first AfCFTA digital trade market access roundtable.
On trade in goods, Nigeria gazette its Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions, enabling the application of preferential tariffs for African-origin goods and reciprocal treatment for Nigerian exports. Export competitiveness was further strengthened through the launch of a subsidised air cargo corridor to East and Southern Africa and the publication of targeted market intelligence tools for priority sectors.
Nigeria also advanced trade in services by submitting its Schedule of Specific Commitments, opening preferential access for Nigerian suppliers across more than 90 services in five key sectors. Institutionally, the establishment of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee created a whole-of-economy implementation structure, complemented by nationwide sensitisation campaigns, a publicly available National Action Plan, and performance accountability mechanisms.
Internationally, Nigeria consolidated its leadership by securing hosting rights for major AfCFTA platforms, including the Intra-African Trade Fair 2027, the Creative Africa Nexus 2026, the AfCFTA Digital Forum, and the 2026 AfCFTA Council of Ministers meeting. Looking ahead, the ministry outlined a 2026 agenda focused on regulatory alignment, improved trade data systems, private sector guidance, investment mobilisation, and positioning Nigeria as a continental innovation, production, and distribution hub.