AfCFTA: Musa Urges Govt to Prioritise Local Content, Capacity Building, Export

… says Nigeria risks becoming a dumping ground

The Vice President, Air and Logistics of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Segun Musa, has urged the federal government to prioritise local content development, capacity building and export to tap into the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

This is just as he said that Nigeria stands the risk of becoming a dumping ground as its level of preparedness for effective participation in AfCFTA is disturbing.

Musa in an exclusive interview with the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) highlighted the country’s infrastructural deficiencies and lack of production capacity as bane to the country participating and benefitting from the continent’s free trade.

According to him, AfCFTA presents a significant opportunity to boost Nigeria’s economy, but that the nation currently has little to offer in terms of trade.

“We have opened AfCFTA for trade liberalisation, but unfortunately, Nigeria has nothing to showcase.

“We are likely to be a dumping country because we have nothing to exchange,” he said.

Musa emphasised that sustainable production is critical for any country to benefit from AfCFTA.

However, he noted that Nigeria lacks key enablers such as stable energy supply, advanced technology, reliable infrastructure, and adequate security.

“Without these, our participation will be limited to the importation of goods from other African nations, as we have no competitive advantage to leverage in the continental market,” he lamented.

The NAGAFF Vice President called for urgent government intervention to boost local production and enhance Nigeria’s trade readiness.

“We need to begin to identify and support entrepreneurs in production, provide them with liquidity, and ensure their products meet certification standards for both local and export consumption,” Musa advised.

He added that regulatory bodies like the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) must play a more active role in promoting standardisation and improving local manufacturing capacity.

Musa also criticised the implementation of AfCFTA in Nigeria, describing it as overly theoretical.

PHe expressed frustration with the lack of practical engagement by the government and stakeholders tasked with facilitating the agreement.

“Most of their activities are just talk shows and paper presentations. If the government is serious, they should focus on practical dialogue and strategies to achieve results,” he stated.

He further highlighted missed opportunities by committees overseeing AfCFTA implementation, accusing them of failing to engage relevant stakeholders effectively.

“To date, there is no seriousness in their approach. We need to move beyond theories to actionable plans that involve all stakeholders,” Musa asserted.

While expressing hope that Nigeria could still benefit from the AfCFTA, Musa urged the government to prioritise local content development, capacity building, and export-readiness initiatives.

“AfCFTA is a continuous market, and it is not too late for us to harness its benefits.

However, this depends on the government’s interest in ensuring we have something tangible to offer,” he concluded.