Nigeria has taken a major step toward advancing regional economic integration by officially gazetting and submitting the ECOWAS Schedule of Tariff Offers to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat. The move, which precedes the 16th AfCFTA Council of Ministers meeting in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing intra-African trade.
Signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the tariff schedule establishes zero duties on 90 percent of tariff lines for trade in goods, strengthening Nigeria’s position in African markets. The development is expected to boost competitiveness, expand trade opportunities, and facilitate smoother movement of goods across borders.
According to Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, the gazetted tariff offers represent a clear signal of Nigeria’s readiness to operate under the ECOWAS and AfCFTA framework. “This milestone enables Nigerian exporters to leverage preferential access across African markets, reinforcing our leadership in regional trade and our dedication to Africa’s single market,” she said.
Following Nigeria’s first shipment under AfCFTA in July 2024, this formal move enhances the country’s capacity to benefit from reciprocal trade arrangements and aligns with the African Union’s 2022 directive for deeper integration among member states. Other AfCFTA members can now accept consignments from Nigeria under the agreement’s preferential terms.
Under its phased tariff reduction plan, Nigeria will achieve a 50 percent tariff cut on goods traded with Africa’s least developed countries by the end of 2025, with reductions of 10 percent annually starting from 2021. Trade with developing countries will see a faster track, with the possibility of full tariff elimination applied at a rate of 20 percent per year.
The agreement is expected to unlock broad economic benefits, including job creation, SME growth, and increased investment by reducing trade barriers and improving access to African markets. It also positions Nigeria as a key West African trade hub under the ECOWAS and AfCFTA framework.
However, experts caution that realizing the full potential of the agreement will require greater collaboration among African Trade Ministers to address non-tariff barriers and enhance compliance with international standards. Improving Nigeria’s productive capacity and infrastructure will also be essential.
Nigeria’s progress in trade facilitation was further highlighted at the February 2025 AU Summit in Addis Ababa, where President Tinubu was commended for his leadership on digital trade. As a Digital Trade Co-Champion, Nigeria is also driving efforts to ensure businesses—particularly small and medium enterprises—can thrive in the emerging continental trade landscape.
“Nigeria is open for business,” Oduwole emphasized. “This commitment ensures that Nigerian goods can reach more markets competitively and profitably, while contributing to the broader vision of African economic transformation.”