By Kingsley Benson
In order to position Nigeria as a front-runner in intra-African trade, the federal government has launched a large-scale training programme for 3 million Nigerian exporters on the rules of origin under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO), is aimed at preparing local businesses to fully leverage the benefits of the continent’s single market framework.
At a recent workshop held in Abuja, National Coordinator of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, said the training is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with strong focus on human capital development (HCD), export-led growth, and trade expansion.
“The rules of origin are not just technical requirements. They determine who gets preferential access in a market of over a billion people,” Mr. Awolowo said. “We want Nigerian businesses – small and large – to understand these rules and apply them confidently. That is how we win in AfCFTA.”
Facilitated by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the training covers the nuts and bolts of qualifying goods for duty-free access across the continent. With over 3 million exporters being targeted, this is one of the most ambitious trade capacity-building efforts ever rolled out in Africa.
Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of the NCS, represented by Mrs. Caroline Niagwan, a Deputy Comptroller-General, noted that the service has upgraded its ICT infrastructure and created a dedicated export command to streamline export processing under AfCFTA.
“We are not just training. We are also building the system that makes trade work. The NCS is ready to support determined exporters to succeed,” he said.
Also addressing the workshop, WCO representative, Madame Faith Mathenge, highlighted the role of the European Union (EU) -WCO Origin for Africa Programme, launched in July 2022 with EU funding. She said that the programme is designed to support customs administrations and the private sector in applying rules of origin across Africa – with Nigeria as a priority partner.
“The goal is simple,” Madame Mathenge said. “We are building Nigeria’s capacity to not just trade within Africa, but to expand its presence in global markets.”
The broader goal of the AfCFTA is to create a unified market for goods and services across 54 African countries, eliminating trade barriers and boosting cross-border investment. For Nigeria, which boasts one of the largest economies on the continent, this presents a unique opportunity to scale exports and diversify beyond oil.
The training, according to Mr. Awolowo, is just the beginning. “This is about unlocking opportunity – opening doors to new markets and building export-ready businesses that can compete globally. That’s the future we are preparing for.”
As businesses across the country begin to grasp the practical application of AfCFTA rules, the government hopes the ripple effect will be felt in job creation, stronger MSMEs, and a revitalised non-oil export sector.
