The Vice President, Air and Logistics, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr. Segun Musa has carpeted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) coordination committee set up by the Federal Government for its failure to deliver.

Apparently dissatisfied with the way and manner it has been carrying out its mandate since it was set up over a year ago, Musa accused the committee for its failure to demonstrate the seriousness needed to maximize the benefits of AfCFTA in the country.

Musa who bared his mind in a chat with journalists in Lagos recently described the committee approach as overly theoretical and ineffective, citing their preference for “talk shows” over practical solutions.

He expressed frustration with the committee charged with facilitating Nigeria’s participation in the free trade agreement, pointing out that it has made little progress beyond paper presentations and abstract discussions.

His words: “They are not doing anything. Most of its engagements have been reduced to talk shows where they deliver speeches. We are not in an era of delivering papers. We need dialogue, practical strategies, and action plans”.

He expressed disgust that the AfCFTA committee had failed to attend critical meetings, further highlighting their lack of commitment.

“During our last meeting, the committee responsible for AfCFTA facilitation did not show up. This demonstrates its lack of seriousness in its assignment. If the government truly intends to improve the economy, it need to ensure such a committee focus on tangible outcomes rather than endless discussions”, he said.



The NAGAFF Vice President also expressed disappointment with the virtual meetings organized by the committee which he claimed lacked depth and actionable resolutions.

According to him, I have participated in their discussions and everything revolves around theory. There is no practical engagement and this has hindered progress. Till date, I have not seen any real effort from this committee.

He emphasized the importance of practical engagements just as he enjoined the AfCFTA coordination committee to involve stakeholders in meaningful discussions aimed at achieving results.

Said he: “If this committee is serious, it should engage those of us ready for practical dialogue and focus on how to build Nigeria’s capacity to participate in the continental trade. Members of the committee avoiding public discussions only confirms their lack of direction.”

Highlighting the potential benefits of AfCFTA, he argued that Nigeria’s failure to prepare adequately is a missed opportunity.

The NAGAFF Chief called on the government to take the agreement seriously by addressing key challenges such as local production capacity, standardization, and export readiness.

“AfCFTA is a huge opportunity but without a solid plan and active stakeholder involvement, Nigeria will continue to lag behind”, he said.

Maritime Bits had reported that AfCFTA is aimed at fostering intra-African trade and economic integration. It requires strong national coordination for effective implementation.

He averred that Nigeria’s coordination framework has many hiccups that have eroded her ability to compete with other countries in the continental market.

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