The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, has described the proposed African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Domestication Bill as a critical legal instrument that will enable Nigeria to maximise the immense opportunities offered by the continent’s single market while protecting the country’s economic and strategic interests.
Oduwole stated this on Monday in Abuja during a public hearing on the AfCFTA Domestication Bill organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce.
She explained that although Nigeria ratified the AfCFTA Agreement, effective implementation requires a comprehensive domestic legal framework to align national laws with the obligations and benefits of the continental trade pact.
According to the minister, the proposed legislation will provide the legal foundation for coordinated implementation of the agreement across relevant ministries, departments and agencies, while also ensuring policy consistency and regulatory certainty for investors and businesses.
“It is clear that the AfCFTA Domestication Bill before us is both timely and necessary. The Bill is not merely about implementing an international treaty.
“It is about positioning Nigeria to fully harness the opportunities of continental trade while safeguarding our national interests,” she said.
Oduwole noted that the legislation would promote transparency, improve predictability for investors and businesses, strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to fulfil its obligations under the AfCFTA Agreement and provide the legal backing needed to enforce the country’s rights under the continental trade framework.
She said the Bill would eliminate ambiguities that often arise in the implementation of international trade agreements by providing clear institutional responsibilities, dispute resolution mechanisms and implementation guidelines.
According to her, the legislation is consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places emphasis on economic diversification, industrialisation, export-led growth, investment promotion, private sector development and large-scale job creation.
“The Bill represents an important step toward building a more competitive, resilient and export-oriented Nigerian economy capable of taking full advantage of Africa’s rapidly expanding market,” she added.
The minister reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to continue working closely with the National Assembly and all relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful passage and implementation of the Bill.
She assured lawmakers that the ministry would provide the necessary technical support required to develop an effective legal framework capable of driving Nigeria’s continental trade ambitions.
Earlier, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, said the public hearing reflected the commitment of the 10th National Assembly to transparent, inclusive and participatory lawmaking.
Represented by the Deputy Chief Whip, Rep. Isiaka Ibrahim, the Speaker stressed that quality legislation must benefit from the practical experiences, technical expertise and perspectives of stakeholders.
According to him, public hearings remain one of the strongest democratic mechanisms for ensuring that laws respond to the realities and aspirations of the people.
He described commerce as one of the strongest pillars of national economic development, noting that it stimulates investment, drives industrial production, expands markets, creates employment opportunities, encourages innovation and strengthens consumer confidence.
“As Nigeria pursues economic diversification and greater competitiveness, we must ensure that our commercial laws are responsive to emerging realities, technological advancement and international best practices,” he said.
He explained that the objective of the hearing was to subject the proposed legislation to broad stakeholder scrutiny, identify areas requiring improvement and ensure that the final law promotes enterprise, investment and sustainable economic growth.
Tajudeen said the exercise aligns with the legislative agenda of the 10th House of Representatives, which prioritises economic growth, institutional reforms, ease of doing business, private sector development and good governance.
He reaffirmed the House’s commitment to enacting laws that remove unnecessary regulatory barriers, improve Nigeria’s investment climate, support entrepreneurship and strengthen the country’s competitiveness within Africa.
The Speaker further described the AfCFTA Domestication Bill as another demonstration of the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting President Tinubu’s economic reform programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce, Rep. Ahmed Munir, said the overriding objective of the committee was to ensure that Nigeria’s commercial laws become catalysts for economic expansion rather than obstacles to business growth.
Munir urged government agencies, organised private sector groups, manufacturers, exporters, trade associations, academia and civil society organisations to provide data-driven recommendations that would strengthen the legislation before its final passage.
“The success of this legislative process depends significantly on your candid contributions, technical expertise and constructive recommendations,” he said.
Why the Bill Matters
The African Continental Free Trade Area is the world’s largest free trade agreement by the number of participating countries, bringing together 54 African nations with a combined market of more than 1.4 billion people and a gross domestic product valued at over 3.4 trillion dollars.
The agreement, which entered into force in 2019 and commenced trading on January 1, 2021, seeks to progressively eliminate tariffs on goods, reduce non-tariff barriers, liberalise trade in services, facilitate investment and improve the free movement of goods across the continent.
For Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy by GDP and one of the continent’s biggest consumer markets, the AfCFTA presents enormous opportunities to expand non-oil exports, boost industrial production, attract manufacturing investments, deepen regional value chains and create millions of jobs.
However, trade experts have consistently argued that without a comprehensive domestic legal framework, Nigeria may struggle to fully utilise the benefits of the agreement or adequately protect local industries against unfair trade practices.
The proposed AfCFTA Domestication Bill is therefore expected to bridge this gap by incorporating the continental agreement into Nigeria’s municipal laws, clarifying institutional responsibilities, improving policy coordination and providing legal certainty for businesses seeking to trade across Africa.
The legislation is also expected to complement ongoing reforms by the Federal Government aimed at improving trade facilitation, modernising customs administration, enhancing port efficiency, promoting digital trade and strengthening Nigeria’s participation in regional and global value chains.
Stakeholders believe that once enacted and effectively implemented, the law will encourage Nigerian manufacturers, exporters, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and service providers to access new markets across Africa, increase production, stimulate industrialisation and contribute significantly to the country’s economic transformation.
Its implementation is also expected to support the Federal Government’s drive to diversify the economy away from oil dependence by expanding non-oil exports, attracting foreign direct investment and creating sustainable employment opportunities for millions of Nigerians.
