By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
If Nigeria cannot seriously address neglected infrastructure and low production capacity in her economy, she risks becoming a dumping ground for goods from other African nations under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) arrangement.
Dr Segun Musa, Vice President, Air and Logistics, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), raised concerns about this while assessing the country’s preparedness to participate in the continental trade regime.
Musa regrets that while AfCFTA presents a significant opportunity to boost Nigeria’s economy, currently, the nation has little or nothing to offer in terms of trade.
“We have opened AfCFTA for trade liberalization, but unfortunately, Nigeria has nothing to showcase. We are likely to be a dumping country because we have nothing to exchange,” he regretted.
While sustainable production is critical for any country to benefit from AfCFTA, he reasoned, Nigeria lacks key enablers such as stable energy supply, advanced technology, reliable infrastructure, and adequate security.
“Without these, our participation will be limited to the importation of goods from other African nations, as we have no competitive advantage to leverage in the continental market,” he lamented.
The NAGAFF Vice President called for urgent government intervention to boost local production and enhance Nigeria’s trade readiness. “We need to begin to identify and support entrepreneurs in production, provide them with liquidity, and ensure their products meet certification standards for both local and export consumption,” Musa advised.
Regulatory bodies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), he added, must play a more active role in promoting standardization and improving local manufacturing capacity.
While pointing out that AfCFTA implementation in Nigeria has been overtly theoretical, Musa expressed frustration with the lack of practical engagement by the government and stakeholders charged with facilitating the agreement.
“Most of their activities are just talk shows and paper presentations. If the government is serious, they should focus on practical dialogue and strategies to achieve results,” he stated.
He further highlighted missed opportunities by committees overseeing AfCFTA implementation, accusing them of failing to engage relevant stakeholders effectively. “To date, there is no seriousness in their approach. We need to move beyond theories to actionable plans that involve all stakeholders,” Musa asserted.
He urged the government to invest in local content development, capacity building, and export-readiness initiatives.
“AfCFTA is a continuous market and it is not too late for us to harness its benefits. However, this depends on the government’s interest in ensuring we have something tangible to offer,” he concluded.
The AfCFTA agreement, which came into effect in 2021, aims to create a single market for goods and services across Africa, fostering intra-continental trade and economic integration. However, Nigeria’s ability to maximize the benefits of this ambitious project remains uncertain without significant structural reforms and a clear trade strategy
