In a bold move to expand Nigeria’s footprint in the African and global export market, the Federal Government has commenced the training of three million Nigerian exporters on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) rules of origin, aimed at enhancing trade readiness and competitiveness.
The training initiative, driven by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office in partnership with the World Customs Organisation (WCO), is part of a broader strategy to prepare Nigerian businesses—particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—to benefit from the historic free trade pact. The effort is also in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on trade expansion, inclusive growth, and human capital development.
Speaking during the AfCFTA Rules of Origin Workshop held in Abuja for the Organised Private Sector, SMEs, and other critical stakeholders, the National Coordinator of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, emphasized the importance of understanding and applying the rules of origin—an essential component of the AfCFTA.
“The Rules of Origin are among the most critical instruments for qualifying goods for preferential access across the continent,” Awolowo noted. “We need Nigerian business owners to fully understand these provisions to participate effectively in the new continental trade regime.”
The training, being facilitated by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), is structured to equip exporters with in-depth knowledge on trade documentation, classification, and compliance with AfCFTA protocols, especially the rules of origin, which determine product eligibility for tariff-free movement across African borders.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, DCG Caroline Niagwan of Tariff and Trade, assured participants that the Customs Service has upgraded its ICT infrastructure and established a specialized export command to streamline and fast-track export processing under AfCFTA.
“Nigeria is prepared to take full advantage of the AfCFTA agreement,” Niagwan said. “We are committed to supporting determined exporters and ensuring seamless facilitation of export trade.”
The WCO’s Faith Mathenge, speaking on behalf of the EU-WCO “Origin for Africa Programme”, revealed that the EU-funded project—launched in July 2022—aims to support Customs administrations, regional economic blocs, and private sector players in building capacity on AfCFTA’s operational rules. The collaboration with Nigeria is expected to strengthen the country’s cross-sectoral ability to trade effectively across the continent and beyond.
“The goal is to propel Nigeria into the next phase of trade—whether with Africa, Europe, or the rest of the world,” she said.
The scale of the program—targeting 3 million exporters—marks one of the most ambitious trade capacity-building initiatives in Nigeria’s history. Experts believe this could significantly boost the country’s non-oil export volume, reduce reliance on imports, and increase Nigeria’s participation in intra-African trade, which is projected to grow substantially under the AfCFTA framework.
By equipping businesses with practical knowledge of AfCFTA protocols, the Federal Government hopes to:
Enhance competitiveness of Nigerian goods
Promote industrialization and value addition
Create jobs and stimulate economic growth
Ensure compliance with international trade standards
This initiative aligns with global development goals of fostering regional integration and economic empowerment through trade. With the AfCFTA agreement poised to create a single market of over 1.3 billion people, Nigeria’s proactive approach in training exporters could position it as a continental trade hub.
As the continent moves closer to full AfCFTA implementation, Nigeria’s commitment to capacity-building signals a strategic pivot towards a more diversified and export-driven economy.