AFCFTA: : Togo Announces Visa‑Free Entry For African Citizens, Boosting Intra‑African Trade
Togo, under the leadership of Jean‑Lucien Savi de Tové, has announced visa‑free entry for African citizens — a landmark step toward deeper continental integration and a major effort to remove barriers to intra‑African trade.
The move was highlighted during the 3rd edition of Biashara Afrika, hosted by the AfCFTA Secretariat in Lomé, where participants credited the platform with fostering the strategic dialogue, partnerships, and policy actions needed to unlock Africa’s trade potential under the AfCFTA Agreement.
Nigeria’s delegation to the event is led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, and includes senior public- and private‑sector representatives and members of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office headed by National Coordinator/CEO Patience Okala. .
In her opening remarks, Minister Oduwole underscored how visa restrictions have hindered the free movement of people, businesses, and opportunities across the continent — making Togo’s visa‑free policy an important step for regional commerce and cooperation.
According to a statement from AFCFTA Nigeria said
“The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, is leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 3rd Edition of Biashara Afrika hosted by the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat in Lomé, Togo. The delegation includes high-level representatives from the public and private sectors in Nigeria, and members of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office led by the National Coordinator/CEO, Mrs. Patience Okala.
“Biashara Afrika is a leading continental trade and investment platform convening governments, businesses, policymakers, development institutions, and private sector leaders to advance intra-African trade and the implementation of the AfCFTA.
“The Honourable Minister in her statement at the opening ceremony highlighted the impact of visa restrictions on the movement of people, businesses, and opportunities across Africa. This contributed to a landmark announcement by the Government of Togo, under the leadership of Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové, enabling visa-free access for African citizens, a major milestone in advancing continental integration and removing barriers to intra-African trade.
“This outcome reinforces the importance of platforms like Biashara Afrika in driving strategic dialogue, partnerships, and policy actions necessary to unlock Africa’s trade potential and expand opportunities under the AfCFTA Agreement.”