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In a landmark development aimed at enhancing regional integration and trade facilitation, Nigeria has officially gazetted its Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions (PSTCs) under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework. This critical step establishes Nigeria as the 23rd State Party to formally domesticate its tariff commitments, reinforcing its role in Africa’s economic transformation.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, via her official X handle, describing the milestone as a “Big Win for Nigerian Trade.” The gazetting of PSTCs solidifies Nigeria’s regulatory framework within the AfCFTA, offering clarity and certainty for investors, exporters, and businesses seeking to navigate the new compliance landscape.
“To gazette or domesticate a trade commitment is to introduce regulatory transparency. It ensures that citizens, businesses, and institutions are formally informed of new rules entering into force,” Oduwole explained, emphasizing the importance of regulatory compliance in trade implementation.
In addition to the gazette, Nigeria has also officially signed and submitted the ECOWAS Tariff Offer at the recent AfCFTA Council of Ministers meeting held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The tariff offer enshrines a zero-duty policy on 90% of goods traded across the continent—a significant boost to intra-African trade and a driver of compliance automation in cross-border commerce.
“President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of the ECOWAS Tariff Offer strengthens Nigeria’s influence in shaping the future of African trade and opens up new regulatory-compliant pathways for exporters,” said Oduwole.
The move positions Nigeria to fully implement the AfCFTA Agreement, creating a compliance management system that ensures preferential tariff treatment for eligible imports in accordance with the treaty’s provisions.
“This development affirms our readiness to operationalize the AfCFTA Agreement. It’s a transformative move for businesses, providing regulatory certainty and reducing barriers to entry,” Oduwole noted.
The Minister also spotlighted digital trade as a frontier for Nigerian innovation, encouraging the country’s digital service providers to engage with emerging opportunities under the AfCFTA.
“As Africa’s digital economy evolves, we’re mapping out Nigerian digital services and identifying key continental markets. We invite our tech and digital entrepreneurs to be proactive in leveraging the AfCFTA platform,” she said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s five-year journey since ratifying the agreement, Oduwole lauded local entrepreneurs and reaffirmed government support through regulatory intelligence, expanded market access, and enhanced trade facilitation tools.
“Our entrepreneurs are prepared to scale. We’re backing them with the right regulatory instruments—like the PSTC gazette—to ensure they thrive in a one-African market,” she added.
She further noted that the AfCFTA presents a strategic opportunity to increase foreign exchange earnings and scale up Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), especially those led by women and youth.
“This is a chance for our MSMEs to tap into Africa’s $3.4 trillion market. We are supporting women-led and youth-led businesses to extend their footprint across the continent through compliant and structured trade frameworks.”
With the AfCFTA uniting a market of 1.4 billion people, Oduwole reiterated the transformative potential of the trade pact, describing it as the largest free trade area globally.
“This agreement is not just about trade; it’s about value creation within the continent. Through this regulatory alignment, we ensure shared prosperity, enabling African nations to retain value and build competitive economies through cooperation, innovation, and compliant trade practices,” she concluded.
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