Nigeria has formally gazetted and submitted its ECOWAS schedule of tariff offers for goods traded across Africa to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat.
Gatekeepers News reports that the gazetting process is an official announcement that promotes transparency by informing businesses, organizations, and citizens about new regulations that will take effect.
For traders, this development offers clarity and reassurance, as it confirms that Nigeria will provide preferential tariff treatment for eligible goods upon importation, consistent with its commitments under the AfCFTA agreement.
Jumoke Oduwole, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, announced this development on Monday through her official X page.
She explained that the submission took place during the AfCFTA Council of Ministers meeting in Kinshasa, where Nigeria officially signed and submitted the ECOWAS tariff offer, which establishes zero duties on 90 percent of goods traded within Africa.
Oduwole emphasised that this decision represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s implementation of the AfCFTA agreement and showcases the country’s commitment to engaging actively in intra-African trade.
“As Nigeria commences its implementation review of five years of AfCFTA, we have been reflective on the journey so far,” she said.
“What is clear is that Nigerian entrepreneurs are more than ready to take on the challenge to move across borders — and we celebrate that feat by supporting them as a government, including through the implementation of the tariff gazetting for our AfCFTA schedules.”
She described the move as a “landmark achievement” and congratulated President Bola Tinubu and entrepreneurs for their perseverance.
“We welcome other businesses and entrepreneurs into our one market, and we also look forward to gracing the shores of many other countries with our proudly Nigerian products,” she added.
Speaking on the broader impact of the agreement, Oduwole said AfCFTA offers Nigerian businesses, particularly micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs), youth-led, and women-led enterprises, the opportunity to expand beyond the country’s borders and access the wider African market.
“What does AfCFTA mean to the Nigerian economy? It’s an opportunity for our hardworking entrepreneurs to take their goods out of Nigeria and earn much-needed foreign exchange,” she said.
“It’s an economy to expand businesses. It is a market of 1.4 billion people with a value of $3.4 trillion — the largest free trade area in the world.”
She added that Nigeria would continue to lead in digital trade frameworks and strengthen its position in services and goods trade across the continent.
“We continue to harness and keep value within our continent to ensure prosperity for African people. It’s a partnership. Everybody has something to gain.”
