Nigeria Gazettes ECOWAS Tariffs to Strengthen Continental Trade

The move came ahead of the 16th meeting of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers (COM), which is being held today in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The development marked a crucial milestone in regional trade integration amid the current global trade war initiated by the United States President Donald Trump.

Nigeria became the 23rd AfCFTA state party to gazette its Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions (PSTCs).

The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mrs Jumoke Oduwole, while announcing the development on her official X handle, said the manufacturing and agriculture sectors in Nigeria are poised to see improvements because of this actions.

She said AfCFTA would trigger a 73 per cent growth in tarde volume in the agriculture and fishing sectors, adding that prices of items should begin to see a downtrend as a result because of competition.

“Stronger sectors, stronger Nigeria,” she noted in a statement issued by the Director for Press and Public Relations in her ministry, Mr Adebayo Thomas.

The Minister further said the milestone would enable Nigerian exporters leverage preferential tariff access across African markets, positioning the country as a key player in regional and global trade, stressing that the gazetting and transmission of tariffs to the secretariat signified the country’s readiness for trade under the agreement.

Mrs Oduwole said the development underscored Nigeria’s dedication to leveraging Africa’s single market for economic transformation.

The AfCFTA agreement establishes zero duties on 90 per cent of tariff lines for trade in goods, enhancing Nigeria’s market competitiveness and expanding trade opportunities across Africa.

Essentially, Nigerian goods are now competitively positioned in the African market, ensuring greater business access and profitability.

President Bola Tinubu signed the ECOWAS Schedule of Tariff Offers, which reinforces the country’s commitment to regional trade expansion, strengthening its role in shaping the future of intra-African trade and boosting export competitiveness under the AfCFTA framework.

Furthermore, it enables the seamless shipment of goods to and from Nigeria, unlocking new opportunities for businesses, manufacturers, and exporters.

The gazetting of the schedule of tariff concessions was expected to yield significant benefits, including boosting economic growth and job creation by reducing trade barriers, strengthening regional integration and trade relations through enhanced economic ties, and supporting Nigerian SMEs by lowering costs and encouraging market expansion.

Nigeria’s commitment to AfCFTA implementation makes it an attractive destination for foreign and intra-African investment, reinforcing its role as a trade hub in West Africa.

The gazetting announcement follows the AfCFTA digital trade mandate announced in February in Addis Ababa, where President Tinubu received a personal commendation for his work on digital trade, further reinforcing the country’s commitment to regional and continental trade integration.

The statement added that as a digital trade co-champion, the country was advancing seamless trade facilitation and cross-border commerce, ensuring businesses, especially SMEs, can fully benefit from the AfCFTA framework.