By Miriam Humbe
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and to projecting a strong, coordinated national position at the forthcoming 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (MC14).
Obilor-Duru Augustina Okechi,
Head Press & PR disclosed this in a statement signed on Thursday.
Speaking at the 2026 First Quarter Meeting of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee (CCC) in Abuja, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, described the Committee as the engine room driving Nigeria’s AfCFTA delivery.
She commended members for their dedication throughout 2025 and noted the release of Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation scorecard at the start of the year as a reflection of transparency and accountability.
The Minister highlighted Nigeria’s active engagement in recent high-level continental consultations in Maputo, Mozambique, where African Trade Ministers met with the WTO Director-General, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, and representatives of the African Union to align Africa’s common position ahead of MC14, scheduled to hold in Yaoundé, Cameroon — the second time the WTO Ministerial Conference will take place on African soil.
Dr. Oduwole emphasized that Nigeria is adopting a whole-of-country and whole-of-economy approach in preparing for MC14, with strong representation from the private sector, trade associations, customs authorities, standards agencies, and relevant government institutions under the coordination of FMITI.
She outlined priority areas for Nigeria’s engagement, including e-commerce, investment facilitation for development, agriculture, and trade reforms that directly impact national economic growth.
She further noted Nigeria’s leadership role as a Digital Trade Champion under AfCFTA and disclosed plans to host a series of engagements throughout the year to deepen digital trade and export competitiveness.
According to her, Nigeria’s non-oil exports to African markets have recorded significant growth, underscoring the strategic importance of regional trade in stabilizing and strengthening the national economy.
The Minister also announced the commencement of subnational intervention tours across the six geopolitical zones beginning in April.
The initiative is aimed at taking AfCFTA messaging to states and local businesses, identifying export-ready products, and ensuring that Nigerians across the country understand and access continental trade opportunities.
Addressing global geopolitical tensions, Dr. Oduwole reaffirmed that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains focused on the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She stated that recent reforms have stabilized the economy and positioned Nigeria at a critical inflection point, stressing the importance of staying the course, sustaining production, and leveraging global and regional trade platforms to support private sector growth.
The Permanent Secretary of FMITI, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, represented by the Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, Mr. Mohammed Naziru Abbas, commended the Minister’s leadership and the Committee’s sustained collaboration.
He described the CCC as a vital platform for policy alignment, inter-agency coordination, and performance monitoring of Nigeria’s AfCFTA commitments.
He urged members to adopt a solution-driven approach, emphasizing implementation discipline, measurable outcomes, and accountability as essential to achieving tangible results for Nigerian businesses, particularly MSMEs, women, and youth. He reiterated that AfCFTA represents a transformative economic framework capable of driving industrial expansion, export diversification, regional value chain integration, and inclusive growth.
Providing a briefing on the Committee’s “Road to MC14,” P3 Subnational Tours, and Nigeria’s AfCFTA Week activities, the Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister, Mrs. Patience Okala, outlined progress made at the recent P3 Summit. She explained that participants conducted a detailed review of key AfCFTA protocols, including Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Investment, Digital Trade, and Women and Youth in Trade, to deepen technical understanding and improve coordinated implementation.
A major outcome of the Summit was the simplification of AfCFTA frameworks into accessible language to enhance private sector participation. Mrs. Okala announced the development of user-friendly AfCFTA guides, translated into major local languages to ensure broader understanding and engagement nationwide.
She also revealed the unveiling of the CCC National Action Plan and the establishment of a governance subcommittee tasked with strengthening the implementation structure. The subcommittee, chaired by Mrs. Chioma Chudi-Anaukwu, has since commenced work and will formally present its framework at a subsequent launch event.
The meeting reaffirmed Nigeria’s resolve to consolidate its AfCFTA gains, strengthen institutional coordination, and project a confident, prepared, and strategic presence at regional and global trade platforms, while ensuring that continental trade translates into measurable economic benefits for Nigerian businesses and citizens.
