Nigeria to host 2027 Intra-African Trade Fair, pledges to boost continental trade

Africa, Business

Lagos, Nigeria (NPA) — March 11, 2026 — Nigeria has secured the right to host the fifth edition of the biannual Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in 2027, with a pledge to accelerate intra-African trade and investment.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, expressed pride at the development during the host agreement signing ceremony in Lagos. The IATF, under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), serves as a marketplace connecting continental and global players. The fair will run from Nov. 5 to Nov. 11, 2027, in Lagos.

In four editions, the IATF has generated more than $167 billion in trade and investment deals. Oduwole noted Nigeria’s completion of its five-year AfCFTA implementation review in 2025, making it the first State Party to do so. She emphasized that inclusive growth, focusing on women and youth, is central to Nigeria’s vision for IATF 2027.

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She added that Nigeria intends not only to surpass previous transaction levels but also to deepen collaboration across Africa. “Beyond transactions, we envision IATF 2027 as a marketplace that will aggregate ideas, relationships, capital and skills to boldly confront challenges impeding our one African market,” she said.

Preparations include Nigeria’s launch of an AfCFTA air cargo export corridor with Uganda Airlines in 2025 and initiatives such as the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT).

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chair of the IATF 2027 Advisory Council, highlighted Lagos’s historic role in hosting the 1980 Lagos Plan of Action. He praised government and private sector efforts in securing hosting rights.

African Export-Import Bank President Dr George Elombi projected the fair would attract over 100,000 visitors, stressing its role in building regional value chains, creating jobs, and boosting intra-African trade.