AFCFTA: Nigeria must play leading role in harmonisation, integration of border management - Osinbajo
The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, has said that Nigeria must play a leading role in the harmonisation and integration of border management and familiarisation of cross border trade, given the size of the nation’s economy on the back of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) agreement.
According to Osinbajo, building productive capacity is only the first step; the ability of businesses and entrepreneurs to integrate successfully into the opportunities of the free trade agreement gives great deal in strengthening Nigeria’s domestic ability to facilitate trade.
“All processes, customs and logistic chain must be dynamic and efficient and the capacity of the operators and workers must be upscaled through training and inclusion on use of technology,” he said.
“All these are to competently engage with trade partners globally as important participant in the agreement,” Osinbajo said at the 52nd annual national conference of the CIPM, the first virtual and pan-african conference themed, ‘Reinvent: Exploring New Frontiers’.
The Vice President also said that AFCFTA would be the largest free trade area in the world. “Unlike regional free trade agreements before it, this agreement goes beyond just trade in goods and services. It covers intellectual property, competition policy and investment,” he said, stating that AFCFTA is a very innovative and huge trade document that goes beyond Trade and services; it goes into competition policy and investment.
According to him, Nigeria has an A-team of negotiators involved in the negotiation process; a joint decision by FG to change the mindset of Nigerians on trade negotiations. “It is imperative that Nigeria continues to lead on these negotiations, while we move to the second phase that will focus on intellectual property and competition and investment policy”.
Wale Adediran, the president/ chairman of governing council, CIPM, said the theme of the conference is a big conversation for action, with high-impact dialogues for all stakeholders.
“Indeed, we truly are living the theme of ANC 2020 – Reinvent: Exploring new frontiers. In 2020, we struck new strategic alliances, entered into great partnerships, stepped into new worlds of work; particularly of note, given the all too important focus on Health and Safety matters in this COVID-19 year,” said Adediran.
Folasade Yemi-esan, head of Civil Service of Federation, said organisations must be proactive and redefine their approach digitally in response to AFCFTA and on the wake of the new normal.