August 3, 2026
The House of Representatives has begun legislative consideration of 13 commerce-related bills, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Domestication Bill, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s commercial and trade framework. The public hearing, organised by the House Committee on Commerce, brought together representatives from government, regulatory agencies, the private sector, professional bodies, development partners and civil society to provide input on the proposed legislation.
Speaking at the hearing, Speaker of the House, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, said the bills form part of the 10th House’s economic reform agenda to improve the ease of doing business, remove regulatory bottlenecks, attract investment and promote sustainable economic growth. He stressed that stakeholder engagement is essential to ensuring the proposed laws reflect current realities and global best practices.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, urged lawmakers to expedite the passage of the AfCFTA Domestication Bill, describing it as critical to Nigeria’s competitiveness in continental trade. She noted that Nigeria has made significant progress since ratifying the AfCFTA Agreement in 2020, including implementing tariff concessions, advancing digital trade initiatives, ratifying the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol and establishing air cargo corridors to regional markets.
Oduwole emphasised that a strong domestic legal framework is necessary for Nigeria to fully benefit from the AfCFTA. According to her, the proposed legislation will provide greater legal certainty for businesses and investors, strengthen coordination among government institutions and help position the country to maximise opportunities within Africa’s single market while protecting national interests.
Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce, Hon. Ahmed Munir, said the committee is reviewing the 13 bills to modernise Nigeria’s commercial laws, strengthen professional standards and enhance global competitiveness. He called on stakeholders to provide practical, evidence-based recommendations that will help the National Assembly enact legislation capable of driving investment, innovation, job creation and long-term economic growth