The Federal Government has commenced the training of three million Nigerian exporters on the understanding and application of Rules of Origin under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. The initiative is part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to position local businesses for success in the continental market and is being led by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
Speaking at the AfCFTA Rules of Origin Workshop in Abuja, National Coordinator of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Olusegun Awolowo, emphasized that the training is designed to prepare Nigerian exporters particularly those in the organised private sector and small and medium enterprises for full participation in AfCFTA’s preferential trade system.
The training, facilitated by the Nigeria Customs Service, focuses on building technical capacity in the area of Rules of Origin—a critical component of the agreement that determines whether goods qualify for tariff-free access across member states. Awolowo noted that this effort supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially in the areas of human capital development, inclusive growth, and expanded trade opportunities.
“The Rules of Origin are not just technical requirements; they are the gateway to accessing the AfCFTA market. We need our exporters to understand and apply these rules effectively if Nigeria is to benefit meaningfully from this historic trade deal,” he said.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs for Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to support exporters and streamline processes. She highlighted improvements in customs ICT infrastructure and the establishment of a dedicated export command as steps taken to ease the movement of goods across borders under the AfCFTA.
WCO Representative Faith Mathenge also addressed participants, stating that the EU-funded EU-WCO Origin for Africa Programme launched in 2022 is designed to strengthen the capacity of Customs administrations, regional bodies, and private-sector stakeholders to apply Rules of Origin in line with AfCFTA requirements.
According to Mathenge, the partnership with the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office is aimed at building cross-sectoral knowledge and enabling Nigeria to scale intra-African trade, as well as expand commercial ties with Europe and other global markets.
With this training rollout, Nigeria is taking deliberate steps to bridge knowledge gaps among exporters and entrepreneurs, preparing them to take advantage of AfCFTA’s promise of a single continental market. The initiative is expected to accelerate trade growth, increase export volume, and create new economic opportunities for businesses across sectors.
