LASG strategises to lead Nigeria’s AfCFTA goal

The Lagos State Government said it is intensifying efforts to establish itself as a dominant player in Africa’s trade landscape, leveraging the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This was disclosed in a statement issued by the state government. According to the statement, as part of its efforts, the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, recently chaired a pivotal meeting with the Lagos State Technical Working Group on AfCFTA.

It said the meeting demonstrated the state’s commitment to leveraging AfCFTA as a transformative tool for economic growth, job creation and regional integration. AfCFTA aims to eliminate trade barriers, reduce tariffs and create a single market for goods and services across Africa. The Lagos state government’s move is coming on the heels of concerns raised by stakeholders after Nigeria’s maiden Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) shipment under AfCFTA, which took place earlier in July.



Eight companies participated in the pilot scheme with concerns raised including pricing, unfair competition, the need for a more robust manufacturing sector to keep up with the high quality and volume of goods needed to be exported under the programme and lack of properly-defined trading guidelines. Ambrose-Medebem noted that AfCFTA represents the future of trade in Lagos and the state is fully prepared to embrace this opportunity. With a deliberate focus on building capacity, fostering innovation and ensuring standardisation, she said Lagos was set to unlock the immense potential of AfCFTA, reiterating the government’s proactive stance on driving regional integration and economic growth.

She said discussions during the meeting centred on fostering intra-African trade, with a vision of empowering African businesses and ensuring Lagos takes a leadership role in the continent’s trade revolution. The Technical Working Group unveiled a roadmap aimed at harmonising the state’s trade strategy with AfCFTA goals, focusing on enabling businesses to thrive in an interconnected African market..