By Felix Khanoba
The Nigerian government says it is working on a plan that will ensure every state in the country increase export capacity to the tune of $1.2 billion or more.
Mr Francis Anatogu, Secretary, National Action Committee on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), said the move is to ensure the country fully leverage on the continental deal to reposition the nation’s economy.
Anatogu made this known while addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja ahead of the Nigeria AfCFTA Subnational Strategy Workshop which will commence on Tuesday in the nation’s capital territory.
The three- day conference is organised in conjunction with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
Anatogu, who doubles as the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Public Sector Matters, said a draft implementation plan on AfCFTA has been developed to ensure effectiveness of the continental trade pact at the sub-national levels.
“First of the strategic goals in the implementation plan is to grow export capacity of every state to the tune of $1.2 billion with a focus on products where there is a competitive advantage.
“The organizing of the first subnational strategy workshop in collaboration with the NGF here in Abuja is an intervention that will put the nation on course to make this goal a reality,” Anatogu said.
He said part of the implementation strategies is to help states build their capacities to participate actively in the single African market, even as he stressed the need for states to taylor their policies and build structures to ensure successful commencement of AfCFTA in the country.
Anatogu also called for more trading activities between states in the country as well as other countries.
“As you may be aware the AfCFTA agreement whose main objective is to promote export trade, deepen economic integration of the continent, create a single market for goods and services with free movement of Africans and investments among member countries came into effect on January 1st, 2021.
“This agreement seeks to eliminate 90% of Tariffs and reduce Non-Tariff barriers to enhance Intra-African trade across the continent and form the foundation of the establishment of a continental customs union thereby creating the largest single market in the world.
“For Nigeria, the AfCFTA will reenergize our country’s aspirations for industrialization and position Nigeria as the destination market for goods and services of the highest standards (finished or not) for the 1.2 billion consumers this agreement has brought to our door step.
“Traditionally over 80% of imports in Africa are sourced from Europe, Asia and the Americas.
” For us, with Nigeria being greatly blessed with both natural and human resources, the AfCFTA drive is about looking inwards to push outwards.”
Anatogu said the workshop will create a platform to engage and interact with State Technical Working Groups (TWGs) expected to be in attendance, with the goal being to reach an understanding of tailoring their economic and development plans to include the requirements of the AfCFTA.
Speaking further, he said the workshop will also ensure the TWGs are aware of the support available from the Federal government and lay the foundation for a single vision and strategy between Federal and State governments to push the AfCFTA agenda in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Nigerian Governors Forum Secretariat, Asishana Okauru, expressed the readiness of the 36 states governors in the country to key into the potentials of AfCFTA to turn around the fortunes of the country.
Okauru, who harped on the importance of trade in the economic development of the country, said the chairman of the forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, has already shown uncommon passion to ensure a successful workshop and the continental trade deal in the country.
He said the Forum through one of its committee headed by Governor Mohammad Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State is also working to ensure relevant structures and policies are put in place to ensure that states successfully leverage on the AfCFTA deal.
