This report documents the strategic plan for the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) by Nigeria following a diagnostic review of the prevailing trade ecosystem including the participants (traders and service providers), the regulating agencies, prevailing policies, and processes as well as the level of regional integration.
Results and findings of various relevant studies have been curated into an actionable strategic plan for the development of the products and service sectors in Nigeria, an efficient trade system and process, and a seamless implementation plan with easy monitoring and evaluation framework to aid the Federal Government of Nigeria as trading commences under AfCFTA and subsequently the phase II negotiations of the agreement.
The recommendation also aims to chart a pathway for Nigeria to reap the anticipated benefits of AfCFTA, which comes largely via access to the vast African market, while mitigating the negative externalities of open trade on its local economy.
This work was commissioned by the PDF Bridge Programme for use by the Beneficiaries, in particular, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment as a key Policymaker on trade in Nigeria. It is expected that this report will provide current and actionable recommendations that will support the FMITI, NOTN, other Federal MDAs, States and private sector participants in the successful implementation of the AfCFTA and overall drive towards sustainable economic growth.
Associated resources
Export Expansion Grant (EEG) was established under the Export Incentives and Miscellaneous Decrees of 1986 and amended into an Act in 1992 to accomplish the diversification agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN). Other export support funds created under the same Act are the Export Development Fund (EDF) and Export Adjustment Scheme Fund (EASF). The funds have been repositioned in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of 2017-2020. The EEG is a post-shipment incentive scheme aimed to achieve three key objectives: (i) to enable exporters to expand their businesses more conveniently, (ii) make Nigeria’s non-oil export more competitive, and (iii) facilitate greater and faster foreign market penetration.
PDF II (now PDF Bridge)’s Trade Policy Workstream funded a study on “Analysis and Impact of the Export Expansion Grant on Export Potential, Market Access and Export Competitiveness in Nigeria”. This policy roundtable discussed the findings and recommendations from this study.
The study ‘Diversification and Non-Oil Export Opportunities for Nigerian States Post-COVID-19’ was commissioned by the NEPC through the Policy Development Facility (PDF) Bridge Programme for use by the public and private sector stakeholders. Ernst & Young conducted a market analysis on six prioritised products from the Zero Oil Initiative and provided strategic recommendations.
PDF Bridge has now developed a policy brief for stakeholders to highlight the key issues and recommendations. The full study can be accessed here.
This study focuses on the determination of the impact of Nigeria’s textiles import restriction. Specifically, the study describes the structure of the global and Nigeria’s textile industries as well as the global value chain, and the policy environment surrounding the industry in a global and national perspective. It was conducted in 2013 with support from FCDO (formerly DFID).
This is the report from a feasibility study conducted on the possibility of constructing a border post and associated infrastructure at Saki West, Oyo State. Conducted in 2012 and funded by FCDO Nigeria Policy Development Facility (FCDO-PDF).
This study conducted by PDF with support from FCDO (formerly DFID) shows that women who engaged in cross border trade contribute to food security by trading food products from areas of surplus to areas of deficit. The paper reveals that depending on how this trade is organized, these women have the potential to contribute significantly to household earnings and resources. This empowers women by giving them financial independence and control of their own resources.
