Nigeria has formally submitted its tariff commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), signaling a crucial shift in its regional trade strategy and deeper engagement with the continent’s $3.4 trillion single market. The announcement was made at the AfCFTA Council of Ministers meeting held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
As part of its submission, Nigeria has adopted a 90% tariff waiver on goods traded within Africa, effectively enhancing the competitiveness of Nigerian products across the continent. This follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of the ECOWAS Schedule of Tariff Offers, which outlines the country’s trade concessions under AfCFTA.
“This shows that Nigeria is committed to trading actively across Africa,” said Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment. “With this waiver, Nigerian exports will benefit from more favorable terms, and our businesses can scale more easily across borders.”
The extensive tariff schedule underwent rigorous review across multiple ministries (including finance, justice, and trade) before being officially gazetted and submitted to the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra, Ghana. The waiver covers a wide array of products that will now attract zero tariffs in other African markets, creating significant opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
“We took our time to do it right,” Oduwole said. “For the past 22 months, our strategy has been deliberate and focused on ensuring Nigerian enterprises are truly prepared.”
Recent figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reflect a positive trajectory. Non-oil export earnings rose from $0.54 billion in December 2024 to $0.56 billion in January 2025, largely driven by stronger agricultural exports. This trend, according to Oduwole, is expected to accelerate with the full implementation of AfCFTA.
To empower businesses especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to take advantage of the new trade environment, the government plans to launch a market intelligence tool to identify in-demand Nigerian products across various African countries, particularly in East and Southern Africa.
“We’re equipping businesses not just with data but also with trade missions and regulatory support,” Oduwole noted. “From licensing to customs procedures, we want to eliminate the guesswork for exporters.”
The Nigerian Customs Service is also set to host a continental gathering of Customs officials later this year in Abuja to advance regional coordination on trade facilitation.
In addition to goods, Nigeria is also positioning itself as a continental leader in services, with banks, fintech startups, and agritech firms already expanding into other African markets. Nigeria is currently a digital trade co-champion alongside Kenya and South Africa, and has developed a National Digital Trade Framework, the first of its kind globally.
“We’re now shifting to the implementation phase of the National Single Window project a unified digital platform for trade facilitation which has faced delays in the past,” Oduwole explained. A continental digital trade summit is scheduled for next month in Lusaka, Zambia, to push the agenda forward.
Despite infrastructure and financing gaps, particularly for small businesses, Oduwole remains optimistic.
“We can’t wait until 2030 to meet AfCFTA’s 50% intra-African trade target,” she said. “We must act faster, and Nigerian businesses are ready to lead.”
She praised the determination of local entrepreneurs, describing their “indefatigable spirit” as a driving force behind Nigeria’s trade ambitions.
“This is a chance for our hardworking business owners especially MSMEs, women-led and youth-led enterprises to expand into new markets, earn foreign exchange, and contribute to economic growth across the continent,” she concluded.
