On this significant day for trade in Africa, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, recently met with the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, Mr. Wamkele Mene, in a bid to maximize the opportunities afforded to his country by this major regional initiative.
The meeting, which took place in Kigali, Rwanda, provided an opportunity for the Comptroller-General to acknowledge the crucial support provided by the administration of President Bola Tinubu as well as the House of Assembly, through the Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023. The Act has provided a critical legal framework for implementing initiatives aimed at supporting the government’s vision of making Nigeria the most efficient trading nation on the continent, thereby fostering the growth of SMEs and enhancing exports to boost intra-African trade.
Adeniyi highlighted his team’s sustained efforts in trade facilitation, culminating recently in the success of Mrs. Chinwe Ezenwa, CEO of LE LOOK Nigeria Limited, becoming the first woman to export goods under the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative, GTI, to East, Central and North African countries. The achievement, marked by the export of goods on 16th July 2024 from Apapa Port in Lagos, illustrates the growing opportunities for Nigerian businesses in the continental market.
The Nigeria Customs boss pledged to take these discussions to the Africa Heads of Customs Administration platform, ensuring a coordinated approach to addressing customs challenges across the continent.
On his part, Mene expressed the commitment of the AfCFTA Secretariat to develop a concept note outlining the directions for the free trade area. The meeting between the Comptroller-General and the Secretary-General provided an opportunity to refine strategies to enhance trade facilitation under the AfCFTA.
Discussions focused on addressing existing barriers and encouraging small and medium enterprises to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the agreement, given their critical role in enhancing intra-African trade. Particular attention was paid to the role of Customs in these efforts, thus highlighting the importance of these agencies in promoting trade in Africa.
This meeting between Adewale Adeniyi and Wamkele Mene demonstrates the commitment of key stakeholders to work together to foster a business environment conducive to economic growth and the development of intra-African tradeThis collaboration promises to strengthen regional trade flows and boost the dynamism of African economies, paving the way for a promising future for trade on the continent.