Nigeria Gazettes ECOWAS Tariff Schedule For AfCFTA, Signals Readiness For Full Trade Integration

The move comes ahead of the 16th Meeting of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers on Trade, scheduled for April 15 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. It sets the stage for Nigeria’s full participation in AfCFTA’s preferential trade regime, which promises zero duties on 90% of tariff lines across the continent.

Signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the gazetted Tariff Schedule reflects Nigeria’s strategic direction towards fostering export-led growth, boosting competitiveness of local products, and strengthening intra-African trade.

Speaking on the development, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, emphasized the significance of the move:

“The gazetting and transmission of the ECOWAS Schedule of Tariffs to the AfCFTA Secretariat signals Nigeria’s readiness for trade under the Agreement.
This milestone enables Nigerian exporters to leverage preferential tariff access across African markets, positioning Nigeria as a key player in regional and global trade.”

Nigeria had previously flagged off its first shipment of goods under the AfCFTA framework in July 2024. With the formal gazetting now in place, the country is expected to deepen its participation in the Agreement, creating broader opportunities for businesses and exporters.

The implementation of the gazetted schedule is expected to deliver substantial benefits to Nigeria’s economy:

Nigeria’s approach to tariff reduction under AfCFTA follows a phased model over a 10-year period starting in 2021:

This strategy aligns with the African Union’s directive from the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, allowing other AfCFTA State Parties to begin trading with Nigeria under the Agreement.