Nigeria recorded far-reaching achievements in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement in 2025, emerging as a leading driver of Africa’s trade-led economic integration under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI).The milestones are contained in the Nigeria AfCFTA Achievements Report 2025, released by FMITI and overseen by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, working alongside the Honourable Minister of State, Senator John Enoh with institutional support from the Ministry’s leadership and partners.
According to the report, Nigeria’s renewed AfCFTA push began in January 2025 with the hosting of the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat alongside Nigerian digital operators, reinforcing the country’s commitment to shaping continental trade governance.
In February, Nigeria gained continental recognition when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was appointed Co-Champion of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade by the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government, alongside Kenya and South Africa. The Assembly also commended the President for advancing digital trade across Africa.
A major institutional milestone followed in March, when the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment inaugurated the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee (CCC). The committee brings together over 20 public and private sector institutions in a whole-of-economy framework to strengthen Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation.
In April, FMITI gazetted Nigeria’s Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concessions for Trade in Goods and conducted the country’s first-ever national mapping of digital services, producing a directory of over 200 Nigerian digital service firms operating across 17 sectors.
Nigeria’s continental influence expanded in May when the country won hosting rights for the second edition of the AfCFTA Digital Forum. During the same period, the Ministry launched a dedicated exports air cargo corridor to East and Southern Africa in partnership with Uganda Airlines and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), while also publishing a market intelligence tool covering cosmetics, agro-processed products and textiles across 13 African markets.
In July, Nigeria became the first AfCFTA State Party to conclude and publish a five-year review of AfCFTA implementation, as mandated by Article 28 of the Agreement. The review provided an objective assessment of progress, challenges and policy gaps, informing subsequent actions by FMITI and the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee.
Further continental recognition followed in September, when Nigeria won the bid to host the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027 and the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) 2026, Africa’s flagship trade and creative economy platforms.
In October, Nigeria submitted its Schedule of Specific Commitments for Trade in Services to the ECOWAS Commission, covering over 90 specific services across five priority sectors. FMITI also convened the first AfCFTA Regional Digital Market Access and Regulators’ Roundtable with Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa, leading to the establishment of a Regional Digital Trade Regulators’ Working Group. Nigeria equally secured hosting rights for the 2026 AfCFTA Council of Ministers’ Meeting.
In November, the Federal Government approved the ratification of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, signalled Nigeria’s readiness to advance intra-African digital commerce. The Ministry also convened the AfCFTA Public Sector, Private Sector and Press (P3) Summit, which launched a nationwide sensitisation and consultation campaign and led to the publication of the National Action Plan Framework of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee.
By December, FMITI commenced the preparation of AfCFTA knowledge products to deepen awareness, build capacity and support Nigerian businesses participating in the continental market.
The report also highlighted Nigeria’s strong global advocacy for the AfCFTA, with the Honourable Minister engaging key international trade leaders and institutions, including the World Trade Organisation (WTO), UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Trade Centre (ITC), AFREXIM Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Overall, the report concluded that Nigeria is ready, equipped and strategically positioned to maximise opportunities under the AfCFTA, having recorded multiple continental firsts and strengthened institutional coordination.
With these achievements, FMITI said Nigeria enter 2026 firmly positioned as a continental trade hub and a leading champion of the AfCFTA’s vision of a single, prosperous African market.
