Nigeria will benefit immensely from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AFCFTA, if it develops the capacity of the private sector to take advantage of the trade.
These was the resolve of stakeholders at a one day workshop on AFCFTA organised by the Lagos Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists.
The Registrar of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, Mr. Francis Omotosho who delivered the keynote address said that Nigeria is key to the success of the agreement because she is the leader of the block.
According to him, every trade block have leaders and the trade success of the blocks are hinged on the performance of the leader of the block.
The Director of Research and Advocacy at the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Oluwasegun Osidipe advised government to ensure that companies processed their primary products before exporting them.
He said that the high cost of doing business in the country would work against the competitiveness of Nigerian products in the international market.
The Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Eugene Nweke who was a former Chairman of NAGAFF, said that every country has its own unique challenges and that Nigeria was working hard to resolve her own issues like other countries in the block
A Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Musa Omale gave an assurance that Customs would ensure that the country get the full benefit of AFCFTA by ensuring smooth facilitation of trade.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Lagos Council of the NUJ, Mr. Leye Ajayi said that the Union organised the workshop to draw attention of government and stakeholders on the hurdles to cross before success.
By Fabian Anawo
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