7th April 2026
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has designated Nigeria as the pilot country for implementing the Simplified Trade Regime (STR) in West Africa, aimed at supporting small-scale cross-border trade. This decision was communicated during a recent engagement between an AfCFTA delegation, led by Pedro Estevao, and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at its headquarters in Abuja.
According to the NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, Estevao highlighted that Nigeria, as the largest market in the region, is strategically positioned to drive inclusive trade and stimulate regional economic growth. During the engagement, the NCS presented its draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementing the STR, which outlines simplified customs procedures for informal cross-border trade, passenger baggage, and low-value e-commerce transactions. These measures are supported by digital declaration systems and risk-based controls.
Key areas of alignment between the NCS draft SOP and the AfCFTA STR framework were identified, including the simplification of documentation and procedures, the use of digital platforms for declaration and clearance, adoption of de minimis thresholds for low-value trade, and the promotion of inclusive trade, particularly for women and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Both parties agreed on the importance of continued technical engagement to refine implementation strategies, address operational challenges, and ensure alignment between national and continental trade frameworks.
This initiative positions Nigeria as a critical pilot for the AfCFTA STR while reinforcing the NCS’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade, strengthening regional integration, and supporting inclusive economic growth. The NCS Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi, reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to simplifying and making transparent customs processes to support MSMEs. The engagement, represented by Deputy Comptroller-General Caroline Niagwan, emphasized that the STR aims to make trade easier, more transparent, and inclusive for small-scale traders, while ensuring compliance with national and regional trade regulations.
The AfCFTA STR framework is designed to ease cross-border trade for small-scale traders by simplifying customs procedures, reducing documentation requirements, and enabling faster clearance of eligible goods across participating African countries.