Says fragmented markets threaten continental growth and border efficiency
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated Nigeria’s determination to help build an Africa where borders facilitate—rather than hinder—trade, investment, and economic opportunities.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the opening of the Customs Pact – Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT), the President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said African nations must adopt disciplined, technology-driven approaches to modernizing their borders.
Tinubu said the gathering of customs leaders, policymakers, and strategic partners was proof that African countries are ready to abandon the old acceptance of “slow borders as destiny.”
Borders Must Enable, Not Block Progress
The President emphasised that nations cannot maximise their size, resources, or talent if they remain trapped behind inefficient borders and fragmented markets.
“Nigeria remains firmly committed—structurally and operationally—to building an Africa that trades by design. Our ambition is simple: a continent where borders enable opportunities rather than inhibit them,” he said.
He noted that fragmented markets cannot withstand global shocks or negotiate effectively with world powers, while integration fosters industrialisation, strengthens bargaining power, and builds resilient supply chains.
Execution, Not Rhetoric, Is What Matters
Tinubu stressed that although the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents a historic step toward integration, meaningful progress depends on visible results:
- shorter border-crossing times
- efficient movement of goods
- reliable local-currency payment systems
“Success will be judged not by communiqués but by real outcomes,” he stated.
Reforms to Strengthen Nigeria’s Trade Competitiveness
Highlighting domestic reforms, Tinubu explained that his administration has prioritized removing barriers to trade by:
- unifying the foreign exchange market
- removing fuel subsidies to redirect funds into infrastructure
- modernising ports with 24-hour clearance
- adopting the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS)
- boosting non-oil exports
He said these actions align Nigeria’s institutions into a coordinated trade-enablement architecture:
- Customs advancing digital clearance
- Ports Authority driving efficiency
- CBN enabling local-currency settlements
- Standards Organisation harmonising continental standards
- NEPC/NEXIM Bank strengthening export preparedness
National Single Window to Go Live in 2026
Tinubu described the National Single Window as central to Nigeria’s digital trade transformation.
Phase 1 will launch March 2026, with full deployment by December 2026.
The platform will:
- allow importers/exporters to submit documents once
- automate interagency data sharing
- apply risk-based compliance
- cut cargo clearance time from 21 days to under 7 days
He said this will position Nigeria as a continental leader in customs digitisation and AfCFTA-aligned trade.
Regional and International Support
Stakeholders at the event expressed alignment with Nigeria’s reforms:
- Finance Minister Wale Edun urged African nations to dismantle trade barriers.
- Trade Minister Jumoke Oduwole reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to AfCFTA implementation.
- WCO Secretary-General Ian Saunders praised Nigeria’s customs modernisation.
- Afreximbank EVP Kanayo Awani said modernisation strengthens compliance and revenue.
- Customs CG Bashir Adeniyi called for cross-border collaboration, saying Africa can no longer operate in silos.
- AfCFTA SG Wamkele Mene pledged close cooperation with Nigeria to achieve C-PACT objectives.
