Nigeria Eyes 10% Control of Africa’s Imports

The federal government has stated that the strategic objectives of Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is to capture 10 per cent of Africa’s imports as well as to double the country’s export revenue by 2035.

In addition, the government said it aims to become “the preferred supplier of value-added products and services to Africa.”
These were disclosed by the Secretary of the National Action Committee on AfCFTA, Mr. Francis Anatogu, during a seminar organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) with the theme: “AfCFTA: The Roadmap for Exporters Successful Participation.”
He said the strategic objective would be achieved by growing export capacity of every state in the country to $1.2 billion as well as by focusing on specific product/service chains.

Nigeria would also, “grow local demand for new Made-in Nigeria automobiles to 200,000 units and local content to 40 per cent over five years,” he said.
Anatogu, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Sector Matters, clarified the questions being asked by Nigerian businesses on when and how to participate in the AfCFTA. He stated that first and foremost trading was yet to commence under the free trade area agreement.
Other key goals of the strategic objective, according to him, also include growing, “highly productivity workforce to earn premium wages in Nigeria and Africa” as well as engendering “friendly business environment to attract investments and boost competitiveness.”