FG urges states to harness AfCFTA opportunities to drive industrialisation, job creation

Business, Economy & Policy

ABUJA, Nigeria (Agency Report) — The Federal Government has urged state governments to take full advantage of opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to accelerate industrialisation, expand exports, attract investment and create jobs across Nigeria.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, made the call on Monday during a Working Visit and Strategic Engagement with State Commissioners of Commerce, Trade and Investment in Abuja.

She said the meeting was convened to strengthen collaboration between the Federal Government and the states in advancing Nigeria’s industrialisation, trade expansion, investment promotion and employment agenda.

“Closer collaboration between the Federal Government and the states will enable Nigeria to maximise the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA, while regular knowledge-sharing sessions will improve coordination on trade and investment initiatives,” Oduwole said.

The minister described the AfCFTA as a key pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic diversification strategy, aimed at expanding market access, strengthening regional value chains and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness across Africa.

She disclosed that the ministry had commenced nationwide AfCFTA sensitisation and capacity-building tours, beginning with the North-West in Kano State, to prepare Nigerian businesses for emerging continental trade opportunities.

According to her, the initiative brings together relevant government agencies and private sector stakeholders to equip businesses with the knowledge, skills and tools required to participate effectively in cross-border trade.

“Every state and local government has exportable products capable of integrating into regional and continental value chains,” she said, urging sub-national governments to identify and promote sectors where they possess comparative advantages.

Oduwole also announced that Nigeria would host the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) and the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Lagos in November 2027, describing the events as major opportunities to showcase Nigerian businesses to the rest of the continent.

She urged state governments to mobilise manufacturers, exporters, investors and creative entrepreneurs to maximise the opportunities presented by the continental events.

The minister further disclosed that Nigeria would assume the chairmanship of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers, positioning the country to lead key continental trade committees over the next year.

She called for sustained collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments and the private sector to advance trade, industrialisation and economic prosperity across Nigeria and the African continent.

Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, said the ministry remained central to achieving Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda through industrial growth and value addition.

Enoh stressed the importance of stronger collaboration with state governments, noting that most industrial parks, manufacturing hubs and economic clusters are located within the states.

He said the Federal Government had introduced a National Industrial Policy and was working closely with state governments to implement industrial clusters, investment promotion programmes and value-addition initiatives nationwide.

Speaking on behalf of the state commissioners, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, commended the ministers for fostering stronger federal-state collaboration to drive economic growth.

She said the engagement would deepen policy coordination, align development programmes with the Renewed Hope Agenda and strengthen enterprise development across the country.

Ambrose-Medebem noted that preparations for CANEX and the Intra-African Trade Fair required deliberate coordination among all levels of government, pledging the support of state commissioners to position Nigeria as Africa’s leading trade and investment destination.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Chris Isokpunwu, described the engagement as a demonstration of the shared commitment of both federal and state governments to industrialisation, trade expansion, investment promotion and job creation.

He said sustainable economic transformation could only be achieved through effective collaboration that translates national policies into tangible benefits for businesses and citizens.

According to him, the ministry’s priorities include expanding exports, accelerating industrialisation, increasing trade volumes and creating sustainable employment through coordinated policy implementation.

Isokpunwu also urged the commissioners to actively participate in the 17th National Council on Industry scheduled to hold in Enugu, describing it as an important platform for strengthening policy coordination and improving Nigeria’s industrial competitiveness.