The Federal Government has launched efforts to deepen Nigerian businesses’ access to regional and continental trade opportunities through the Economic Community of West African States Trade Liberalisation Scheme, ETLS.
The initiative is designed to help businesses take advantage of opportunities within the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, disclosed this at a sensitisation workshop organised in Bauchi for business associations, entrepreneurs and chambers of commerce and industry in the North-East.
The workshop was themed, “Increasing Intra-Regional Trade through ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.”
Bringing foreign policy closer to businesses
Enikanolaiye said the programme was anchored on Nigeria’s 4D foreign policy framework, which places Nigerians at the centre of the country’s foreign policy.
He said the government wanted to bring foreign policy closer to citizens, particularly businesses and entrepreneurs operating at the grassroots.
According to him, many Nigerian businesses have the potential to export goods and services but lack adequate information about regional trade rules, market opportunities and available support mechanisms.
The sensitisation programme is intended to address that information gap.
It will educate businesses on how to access markets within ECOWAS and the wider African Continental Free Trade Area.
ETLS offers regional opportunities
The ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme is designed to promote trade among member states by facilitating the movement of qualifying products within the region.
For Nigerian businesses, the scheme could create opportunities to export manufactured goods, agricultural products, processed foods, textiles, household products and other eligible items.
However, businesses must understand the rules of origin, documentation requirements, product standards and other conditions governing access to preferential trade arrangements.
The government’s sensitisation effort is therefore expected to help entrepreneurs better understand how to participate in regional trade.
Greater awareness could also encourage businesses to improve product quality, packaging, documentation and production capacity.
Focus on value addition and jobs
Enikanolaiye said the programme would place emphasis on industrial value addition, increased production and job creation for young Nigerians.
The government believes that expanding exports can support domestic manufacturing and encourage businesses to move beyond the sale of raw materials.
Value addition can create more employment opportunities, increase business revenue and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional markets.
For example, agricultural products can generate greater economic value when processed, packaged and marketed as finished or semi-finished goods.
The same principle applies to textiles, leather, food processing, chemicals and other manufacturing activities.
Programme to cover all geopolitical zones
The minister said the sensitisation workshops would be held across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The programme will begin in the North-East before moving to the North-Central, North-West, South-South, South-East, South-West and Abuja.
The approach is intended to ensure that businesses outside major commercial centres are also informed about regional and continental trade opportunities.
The government’s outreach is particularly important for MSMEs, which may face greater difficulties accessing information, finance, export certification and international markets.
Improved access to trade information could help businesses identify new customers, understand market requirements and build partnerships across Africa.
AfCFTA and Nigeria’s export ambition
The African Continental Free Trade Area is expected to create a larger integrated market for African goods and services.
Nigeria’s participation provides opportunities for local businesses to reach consumers across the continent, but it also exposes them to increased competition from other African producers.
To benefit from the agreement, Nigerian businesses will need to improve productivity, quality, pricing, logistics and compliance with trade requirements.
The government’s initiative therefore goes beyond explaining trade agreements. It also highlights the need to strengthen domestic production and prepare businesses for competition in regional markets.
The success of the programme will depend on whether sensitisation is followed by practical support, including access to finance, export documentation, standards certification, infrastructure and reliable logistics.
