By Solomon OKPO
Lagos, The Director General of the Association of Nigerian Exporters (ANE), Prince Joseph Idiong, has called for stronger strategic partnerships among government agencies, financial institutions, and private sector players to enhance Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at the NEPAD High-Level Business Forum on AfCFTA held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, Idiong emphasized that effective collaboration is key to turning trade agreements into tangible business opportunities for Nigerian exporters.
“The Nigerian business community must take stock of past missteps and set a positive agenda for successful participation in AfCFTA,” he said, noting that Nigeria had not fully leveraged previous trade agreements such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) of the United States, which expires this year.
Idiong highlighted the need for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian embassies across Africa to play a more active role in trade and investment promotion, in line with their core mandates. He also urged Nigerian banks operating across the continent to support offshore investments in international trade infrastructure.
According to him, expanding the network of Nigerian Export Trade Houses (ETHs) across Africa would help increase the visibility of Nigerian products and strengthen regional market access. The ETH initiative—developed through a public-private partnership between the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and performing exporters—is already operational in Togo, Egypt, and Kenya.
Idiong praised the AfCFTA framework for easing trade relations across African nations, saying it has saved ANE from the costly process of negotiating individual bilateral trade agreements.
He further encouraged Nigerian businesses to emulate the offshore investment strategies of the Dangote Group, suggesting that such initiatives should become an integral part of Nigeria’s national investment policy.
The Association of Nigerian Exporters, established as the apex body for export promotion in the country, represents exporters on the governing boards of both the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
