The Federal Government has declared that the African Continental Free Trade Area has moved beyond the stage of negotiations into a decisive implementation phase, calling on Nigerian entrepreneurs, innovators and digital businesses to take the lead in driving cross-border trade and economic integration across the African continent. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, made the declaration during discussions at the Biashara Africa 2026 forum, where she challenged African governments, business leaders and policymakers to dismantle long-standing barriers that have continued to slow intra-African commerce and investment.
According to a statement issued on Thursday, the minister said Africa had spent years negotiating trade agreements, drafting protocols and making political commitments, stressing that the continent must now concentrate on practical implementation capable of delivering real economic benefits to businesses and ordinary citizens. Oduwole stated that the future of Africa’s economic transformation would depend largely on how effectively member states implement the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area, popularly known as AfCFTA.
She explained that while negotiations and policy frameworks were important foundations, the next challenge for African countries was ensuring that businesses could move goods, services and digital products across borders with fewer restrictions and lower transaction costs. The minister noted that Nigeria, as one of Africa’s largest economies, had a strategic role to play in shaping the future of regional trade, particularly through its growing technology ecosystem, creative industry, manufacturing sector and youthful entrepreneurial population.
She urged Nigerian startups and digital enterprises to position themselves at the forefront of continental commerce by leveraging technology, innovation and digital platforms to expand into new African markets. According to her, digital trade has become one of the fastest-growing components of the continental economy and could significantly boost job creation, industrial growth and financial inclusion if properly harnessed. Oduwole also stressed the need for African leaders to remove bureaucratic obstacles, weak customs systems, poor logistics infrastructure and regulatory bottlenecks that continue to hinder smooth trade between African countries.
She argued that despite the continent’s enormous economic potential, many African businesses still find it easier to trade with countries outside the continent than with neighbouring African states due to excessive border procedures and inconsistent trade policies. The minister said the AfCFTA framework provides Africa with an opportunity to reverse decades of fragmented economic policies and build a unified market capable of competing globally.
Speaking as the incoming Chair of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers, Oduwole said recent developments across the continent indicated that African nations were beginning to align political promises with concrete reforms aimed at accelerating regional integration. She pointed to ongoing efforts by several countries to modernise customs operations, harmonise standards, simplify cross-border payments and improve transport connectivity as evidence that implementation had begun gaining momentum.
According to her, Africa’s economic future would not be determined merely by policy declarations but by the willingness of governments and businesses to translate agreements into measurable outcomes. She added that young entrepreneurs, innovators and small businesses must be empowered to benefit directly from the continental trade agreement through improved access to financing, market information and digital infrastructure. The minister further emphasised that regional integration should not be viewed solely as a government project but as a partnership involving the private sector, financial institutions, technology firms and development organisations.
Industry stakeholders at the forum reportedly highlighted the importance of collaboration among African countries in areas such as digital payments, transportation networks, manufacturing supply chains and energy infrastructure to unlock the full benefits of the AfCFTA agreement. Economic analysts have repeatedly argued that successful implementation of the AfCFTA could transform Africa into one of the world’s largest integrated markets by population and economic potential.
Supporters of the initiative believe the agreement could significantly increase intra-African trade, reduce dependence on foreign imports and create millions of jobs for young Africans over the coming years. Nigeria’s renewed push for implementation comes as many African economies seek new growth opportunities amid global economic uncertainty, inflationary pressures and disruptions in international supply chains.
Observers say the Federal Government’s latest position signals a stronger commitment to ensuring that Nigerian businesses are not only participants in the continental market but also major drivers of Africa’s economic integration agenda. The government maintained that the success of the AfCFTA would depend on sustained reforms, stronger institutions and the ability of African nations to move beyond speeches and agreements toward practical actions that improve trade, investment and economic prosperity across the continent.
