By Stellamaries Amuwa

The AfCFTA implementation scorecard released by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office highlights the significant strides recorded under the leadership of the late National Coordinator, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo (of blessed memory), whose stewardship and commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR administration helped position Nigeria as a leading participant in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The report titled, “The Nigeria AfCFTA Consolidated Implementation Report for 2024–2025”, outlines key milestones achieved during the period, including Nigeria’s formal participation in AfCFTA trading arrangements, strengthened institutional coordination, and expanded engagement with the private sector and development partners.

According to the report, accessible through the link https://afcfta.ng/AfCFTA-2024-2025-Implementation-Report.pdf, Nigeria’s implementation journey during the review period, marked a decisive transition from preparatory groundwork to demonstrable execution of AfCFTA commitments, supported by improved institutional capacity and enhanced stakeholder collaboration.

Commenting, the acting National Coordinator of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Dr. Olusegun Olutayo, who was recently appointed by the Presidency through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), said the scorecard serves not only as a record of achievements but also as a reaffirmation of President Tinubu’s commitment to fully harnessing the transformative potential of the AfCFTA.

According to Dr. Olutayo, the Coordination Office remains focused on strengthening institutional frameworks, expanding exporter participation, and scaling Nigeria’s trade presence across African markets.

He said the President Tinubu administration has placed confidence in the Organized Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) and other stakeholders regarding their readiness for the AfCFTA Implementation Agenda.

A landmark achievement highlighted in the report was Nigeria’s participation in the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative (GTI), which served as a pilot framework to facilitate preferential trade among participating African countries. Under this arrangement, Nigeria successfully executed its first AfCFTA-compliant shipment, marking a historic step in the country’s integration into the continental trading system.

The scorecard further indicates that the Coordination Office strengthened trade facilitation mechanisms and deepened engagement with critical stakeholders across government, the private sector, and sub-national entities. These efforts focused on promoting export readiness, improving regulatory coordination, and ensuring that Nigerian businesses are well positioned to leverage opportunities within the AfCFTA market.

Further, the Coordination Office expanded capacity-building programmes aimed at equipping exporters, customs authorities, and regulatory agencies with knowledge of AfCFTA rules and procedures, particularly the complex Rules of Origin requirements that govern preferential trade under the agreement.

Through structured engagement with business associations and trade groups, the Coordination Office worked to identify export-ready products, connect Nigerian enterprises with African markets, and strengthen linkages across continental value chains.

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