The Vice President, Air and Logistics, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Segun Musa has picked holes in Nigeria’s preparedness for effective participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He also raised concerns that Nigeria may end up becoming a dumping ground for goods produced in other countries across the continent due to her infrastructural deficiencies and lack of production capacity.
Musa who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos recently, averred that AfCFTA presents a significant opportunity to boost Nigeria’s economy but the nation currently has little to offer in terms of trade.
His words: “We have opened AfCFTA for trade liberalization but unfortunately, Nigeria has nothing to showcase. We are likely to be a dumping country because we have nothing to exchange”.
While emphasizing that sustainable production is critical for any country to benefit from AfCFTA, he noted that Nigeria lacks key enablers such as stable energy supply, advanced technology, reliable infrastructure and adequate security.
According to him, without these, our participation will be limited to the importation of goods from other African nations, as we have no competitive advantage to leverage in the continental market.
In order to redress the anomalies, Musa called for urgent government intervention to boost local production and enhance Nigeria’s trade readiness.
“We need to begin to identify and support entrepreneurs in production, provide them with liquidity, and ensure their products meet certification standards for both local and export consumption”, he added.
Musa explained that regulatory bodies like the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) must play a more active role in promoting standardization and improving local manufacturing capacity.
He also criticized the implementation of AfCFTA in Nigeria, describing it as overly theoretical just as he expressed frustration with the lack of practical engagement by the government and stakeholders tasked with facilitating the agreement.
His words: “Most of their activities are just talk shows and paper presentations. If the government is serious, they should focus on practical dialogue and strategies to achieve results”.
The NAGAFF Vice President enumerated the missed opportunities by committees overseeing AfCFTA implementation, accusing them of failing to engage relevant stakeholders effectively.
“Till date, there is no seriousness in their approach. We need to move beyond theories to actionable plans that involve all stakeholders,” he added.
He expressed hope that Nigeria could still benefit from the AfCFTA if the government prioritize local content development, capacity building, and export-readiness initiatives.
Said he: “AfCFTA is a continuous market and it is not too late for us to harness its benefits. However, this depends on the government’s interest in ensuring we have something tangible to offer”.
Maritime Bits had reported that AfCFTA agreement which came into effect in 2021 aims to create a single market for goods and services across Africa, fostering intra-continental trade and economic integration.
Not a few Nigerians have opined that Nigeria’s ability to maximize the benefits of this ambitious project remains uncertain without significant structural reforms and a clear trade strategy.
