The Federal Government has announced plans to deepen Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in 2026 by working closely with state governors to identify at least one exportable product from each of the country’s 774 local government areas.
The initiative is aimed at scaling up production, boosting non-oil exports, and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness within the African market.
Speaking on Nigeria’s AfCFTA Achievements Report 2025 under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the 2026 agenda would build on implementation milestones achieved in 2025 and better position the country to maximise opportunities under the continental trade agreement.
She explained that the programme would be coordinated through the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee, with collaboration across public and private sector institutions and development partners to mobilise production nationwide, alongside awareness and sensitisation campaigns.
According to the report, the ministry will work with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and state governments to ensure that each local government area identifies at least one product suitable for export into the AfCFTA market.
Beyond boosting local production, the 2026 strategy places strong emphasis on creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment to support full implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement and its protocols, with the ministry leading efforts on regulatory alignment.
Nigeria also plans to upgrade its trade data systems to better track AfCFTA trade flows, including detailed data on goods, services, and participation by women and youth. The country will also expand global advocacy and host key continental trade events ahead of the Intra-African Trade Fair scheduled for 2027.
The report further outlines plans to simplify AfCFTA rules and compliance requirements through targeted publications for businesses, while strengthening institutional coordination and accountability among public agencies involved in trade facilitation.
On investment and industrial growth, the document noted that investment mobilisation efforts, involving both foreign and domestic investors, will focus on rapidly increasing productive capacity in key sectors to position Nigeria as a major innovation, production, and distribution hub within the AfCFTA market.
