The Federal Government on Monday launched simplified books and toolkits aimed at easing trade procedures and enhancing Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The multi-lingual kits, available in English, Arabic, and Hausa, are designed to promote inclusivity and strongly position Nigerian businesses to explore the huge opportunities in continental merchandize trade ecosystem.
Speaking during her launching of the toolkits in Kano at the North-West Subnational Tour and Public-Private-Press (P3) engagement on AfCFTA implementation, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, explained that the kits were designed to simplify complex trade rules, including rules of origin, customs procedures, standards compliance, and market entry requirements—particularly for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
According to her, the government initiated the move as part of its efforts to make merchandize trade more practical and accessible by eliminating cumbersome export procedures.
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The minister hinted that to ensure that the procedures were hitch-free, regulatory agencies would be present in Kano to provide essential services, including business registration, product certification, and the issuance of certificates of origin for exporters.
Similarly, she spoke on government’s plans for live export simulations and hands-on training for businesses, along with the introduction of the “One Local Government, One Export Product initiative” to promote grassroots production.
Oduwole clarified: “We want every local government to identify at least one product they can export to Africa. We are making the process easy and immediate.”
The minister recalled Nigeria’s recent gains under the AfCFTA, including the inauguration of an air cargo corridor that reduced freight costs by approximately 75% across selected African routes, adding that demand for Nigerian food items, textiles, and processed goods are increasing in the continent’s markets.
In his remarks at the event, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir-Yusuf, described the state as Africa’s historic commercial hub and a natural gateway for continental trade.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ibrahim, Kabir-spoke on the state government’s efforts to leverage AfCFTA opportunities through industrialization, logistics expansion, and SME development.
He stressed that AfCFTA must work for the growth of traders, processors, youths, ICT hubs, and industries.
It would be recalled that last month, the AfCFTA Secretariat selected Nigeria to be the pilot country for the implementation of its Simplified Trade Regime (STR) in West Africa with the aim of simplifying procedures for small-scale traders involved in cross-border trade, and offering easier access to regional markets and facilitating greater economic integration across the continent.
Speaking on Nigeria’s frontline roles in the implementation of the STR framework, spokesperson of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Maiwada, said Nigeria’s role in supporting small-scale traders remained critical to advancing intra-African trade and overcoming the challenges posed by complex customs procedures and high transaction costs.
The AfCFTA Secretariat’s team, led by Pedro Estevao had last month visited Nigeria to engage with the NCS on the expeditious implementation of STR.
