President Bola Tinubu has signed the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Schedule of Tariff Offers establishing zero duties on 90 percent of goods traded within Africa as part of Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The announcement was made at the AfCFTA Council of Ministers meeting in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, where Nigeria officially submitted the ECOWAS Tariff Offer.
This move positions Nigeria to benefit from duty-free trade across the continent and solidifies its leadership in regional economic integration.
The Federal Government also gazetted its AfCFTA Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions, becoming the 23rd State Party to do so.
The gazetting of these concessions marks a key milestone in Nigeria’s implementation of the AfCFTA agreement and enhances transparency for businesses and stakeholders.
It also provides legal backing for the preferential treatment of eligible goods under the AfCFTA framework.
By implementing zero duties on 90 percent of African goods, Nigeria aims to improve competitiveness, reduce trade barriers and expand market access for local exporters.
This development is expected to boost intra-African trade, create jobs and support the growth of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
The Federal Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, described the milestone as a strategic win for Nigerian entrepreneurs.
She noted that the signing and gazetting of the tariff offers will allow Nigerian exporters to benefit from preferential tariffs and improve their competitiveness in African markets.
“As Nigeria commences its five-year AfCFTA implementation review, we are supporting our entrepreneurs with the tools needed to access new markets. This includes the gazetting and transmission of our tariff schedules which signals Nigeria’s readiness to fully participate in AfCFTA trade,” Dr Oduwole said.
She added that following Nigeria’s first AfCFTA shipment in July 2024, the formalisation of the tariff schedule reinforces the country’s role in shaping the future of African trade and economic transformation.
The zero-duty initiative aligns with the directive of the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in February 2022. With this compliance, Nigeria enables other AfCFTA state parties to accept its goods under preferential trade terms.
The Federal Government said this action would drive inclusive economic growth by lowering costs for producers facilitating cross-border trade and positioning Nigeria as a key player in the continent’s single market strategy.
The policy also provides clarity and predictability for businesses seeking to invest in export-driven production while improving Nigeria’s ability to earn foreign exchange through non-oil exports.
As Nigeria advances implementation of the AfCFTA agreement, the Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that local manufacturers, exporters and SMEs take full advantage of the opportunities presented by regional integration.
