Finally, Nigeria has fully keyed into the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) with the launch of the first shipment from the country to five African countries under the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI). It would be recalled that Nigeria’s AfCFTA Coordination Office was inaugurated five years.
President Bola Tinubu who inaugurated the shipment yesterday, also said that the agreement would ignite the flame of opportunity, foster economic ties and pave the way for progress and shared prosperity for our great nation, in the entire African continent.
The President reiterated that AfCFTA is not just an agreement but a trade agreement that is bound to build Africa’s industrialization and the prosperity for Africans.
Represented by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator George Akume, the President said: “Today, we embark on a journey that would ignite the flame of opportunity, foster economic ties and pave the way for progress and shared prosperity for our great nation, in the entire African continent. We gather here in Lagos, seeking that this being at the forefront of Africa’s economic and trade acceleration, is a testament to Nigeria’s enduring leadership in regional and continental integration”.
National Coordinator, Nigeria’s AfCFTA Office, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo said the first set of exports from Nigeria have been consigned to Cameroon, Kenya, Algeria, Uganda and Egypt with products like bags, ceramics textiles, cables, smart cards Clinkers Black soap, Native starch and Shea butter.
Awolowo said “With this official launch we transition from planning for trade under the agreement to actively enabling our businesses to trade and win. It sets the stage for a new era of trade and prosperity for our country under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”.
