Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s determination to build an Africa where borders function efficiently, facilitating trade and economic opportunities instead of creating obstacles, signaling the nation’s leadership in regional integration and cooperation.
Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, addressed the Customs Pact – Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, highlighting Nigeria’s dedication to modernising borders and boosting continental commerce.
The President urged African nations to adopt discipline in modernising borders, ensuring they met high demands and technological advancements, enabling faster trade flowed and stronger economic integration across the continent.
Tinubu highlighted that the event, attended by leaders and partners from across Africa, signaled the continent’s determination to move away from accepting slow and inefficient borders as inevitable constraints.
He stressed that a nation’s size, resources, or talent was inconsequential if trapped behind inefficient borders, emphasising the need for integration to unlock markets, enhance industrialisation, and drive economic competitiveness continent-wide.
“Nigeria remains structurally and operationally committed to a continent that trades by design, where integration is practical, measurable, and effective, ensuring that borders create opportunities rather than restrict economic potential across Africa,” Tinubu stated.
Tinubu warned that fragmented African markets cannot reach industrial scale, negotiate effectively with global powers, or withstand external shocks, emphasising that functional borders and cohesive trade systems were vital for economic resilience.
He noted that regional integration enabled large-scale industrialisation, strengthened collective bargaining, and built resilient supply chains.
The President emphasised that the strength of Africa’s continental market could be declared but must be deliberately engineered through functional systems, practical policies, and coordinated institutional frameworks that facilitated seamless trade.
While Africa has taken the hardest step by agreeing on integration through AfCFTA, Tinubu highlighted that success now depended on execution, measured by reduced border times, reliable local-currency settlements, and efficient goods movement.
“Success will be judged by measurable outcomes: shorter border crossing times, efficient customs operations, and improved daily experiences for traders, manufacturers, logistics operators, and farmers,” he said, stressing practical results over mere statements.
He stated that Nigeria’s drive to deliver democratic dividends informed reforms targeting structural barriers to trade, enhancing investment efficiency, and rebuilding institutions critical for effective regional integration across West Africa and the continent.
The President highlighted the removal of bottlenecks limiting competitiveness, prioritising non-oil export growth, adopting the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, and creating an institutional framework to support stronger continental commerce and integration.
“Nigeria’s agencies are deliberately unified into a trade-enablement architecture, dismantling traditional silos, ensuring Customs, Ports Authority, Central Bank, and standards bodies work cohesively to advance seamless intra-African trade and economic competitiveness,” Tinubu explained.
He detailed digital reforms, noting that the Nigeria Customs Service advanced risk-based inspections, Nigerian Ports Authority improved port efficiency, Central Bank enabled local currency settlements, and export agencies strengthened readiness and financing.
Tinubu stressed that no single agency could deliver continental integration alone, highlighting the importance of a coordinated institutional approach as essential for successful trade facilitation and Africa-wide economic prosperity.
“Intra-African trade is projected to expand from 15 per cent in 2023 to 25 per cent by 2030 under AfCFTA, while Nigeria’s non-oil exports to African markets rose 38 per cent year-on-year in 2024.
“Cargo clearance times at major Nigerian seaports fell approximately 30 per cent since 2023, driven by digital trade reforms and automation, proving that predictable, disciplined processes significantly enhance African trade outcomes.”
Tinubu described Nigeria’s National Single Window as central to continental trade strategy, ensuring a unified portal for import and export documentation, real-time processing, and faster cargo clearance, fully aligned with AfCFTA digital frameworks.
He assured that phase one of the National Single Window would be inaugurated in March 2026, with full rollout by Dec. 2026, streamlining inter-agency data sharing and cutting clearance times from 21 to under seven days.
Finance Minister Wale Edun, represented by Minister of State Doris Uzoka-Anite, urged African authorities to continue dismantling trade barriers and assured Nigeria’s commitment to modernising customs administration for smoother regional commerce.
Edun emphasised that Nigeria was committed to ensuring AfCFTA delivered real benefits for citizens, enhancing ease of doing business at borders, and facilitating practical outcomes for traders and investors across the continent.
Minister of Trade Dr Jumoke Oduwole, noted that under Tinubu’s leadership, fiscal discipline had been strengthened and Nigeria remained on course to accelerate regional economic integration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Oduwole stressed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to AfCFTA while urging participants to build an Africa that traded more with itself, highlighting the importance of practical, measurable steps to strengthen intra-African commerce.
World Customs Organisation Secretary-General Ian Saunders, commended Nigeria’s ongoing customs reforms, reaffirming WCO support for legitimate trade facilitation while hailing African Customs leaders for modernising operations and strengthening institutional capacity.
Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi, called for cross-country trade facilitation, integration, and active engagement in AfCFTA implementation, emphasising that working in silos would limit Africa’s potential for efficient and seamless commerce.
Adeniyi added that the Abuja engagement would enhance dialogue and mutual understanding between customs administrations and private-sector stakeholders, fostering cooperation and advancing practical outcomes for continental trade integration.
Credit: NAN
