Ibadan, Nigeria — The Nigerian government has reaffirmed its commitment to trade-led growth, with presidential aide Sunday Dare declaring that trade and investment are central to Africa’s economic recovery. Speaking at the launch of the Oyo State Sub-National African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation Strategy, Dare emphasized that the continent’s future prosperity depends on building regional value chains and boosting local production.
According to the Special Adviser on Public Communications to President Bola Tinubu, Africa can no longer depend on external tariff systems and Western-imposed trade rules. The AfCFTA offers a pathway for African nations to define their own economic future through cooperation, industrialization, and South-South trade.
🔗 Learn more: Africa’s Continental Free Trade Area Explained
Nigeria’s Role in the AfCFTA
The African Continental Free Trade Area connects over 1.3 billion people across 55 countries, making it the world’s largest emerging market.
As Africa’s biggest economy, Nigeria plays a crucial role in shaping the success of this initiative.
The Oyo State sub-national launch reflects a broader push by the Tinubu administration to ensure local governments drive trade expansion. Nigeria’s AfCFTA strategy is guided by four key pillars:
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Trade-led growth to expand market access
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Industrialization based on value-added production
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South-South cooperation for shared prosperity
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Job creation through regional supply chains
This marks a decisive shift from reliance on oil toward a diversified, trade-driven economy.
Tariff Reforms and a Five-Year Roadmap
Sunday Dare revealed that Nigeria’s federal government has already gazetted new trade reforms and tariff adjustments, with a five-year implementation plan.
These measures are designed to:
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Reduce barriers to cross-border trade
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Strengthen local industries to compete regionally
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Increase non-oil revenue through value-chain expansion
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Position Nigeria as a hub for West African exports
🔗 Related reading: Africa’s Investment Opportunities in 2025
Building Value Chains for Growth
At the core of Nigeria’s AfCFTA strategy is a focus on value chain development.
Dare stressed that Nigeria must move beyond raw exports and start transforming agricultural products, minerals, and manufactured goods into finished or semi-finished products that command higher market prices.
This approach mirrors the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a continent built on industrialization and self-reliance.
🔗 Explore more: Agenda 2063 and Africa’s Development Path
Why It Matters
Nigeria’s renewed AfCFTA focus is more than a trade policy — it represents a continental shift toward economic sovereignty.
By integrating regional supply chains and enabling intra-African investment, Nigeria is laying the foundation for sustainable growth.
For diaspora investors, this is a pivotal moment. As new tariff regimes and investment frameworks take effect, opportunities are opening across agriculture, manufacturing, and digital services.
🔗 See our feature: Diaspora Bonds: Can They Fund Africa’s Future?
Conclusion
By aligning national and state-level strategies with AfCFTA, Nigeria is positioning itself at the heart of Africa’s integration drive.
The Tinubu administration’s focus on trade, industrialization, and partnership marks a turning point toward African-led development.
As Dare emphasized in Ibadan:
“This is not just about removing tariffs — it’s about building a self-sufficient, job-creating economy that connects Nigeria’s strengths to Africa’s broader transformation.”
