LAGOS : STWG Begins  Practical Roadmaps For AfCFTA Implementation

The Lagos State Government has described the State Technical Working Group (STWG) on implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA as critical to the domestication of the continental agreement.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs. Adetutu Ososanya, FCA, made the remark at the maiden meeting of the Group held at the Ministry in Alausa, recently.

Ososanya stated that members across various sectors were brought together to discuss strategies for the domestication and implementation of AfCFTA in the State, saying the Group will be meeting fortnightly physically and virtually to develop a roadmap, monitor progress and address any emerging issues related to the implementation of the Agreement.

Her words: “The primary objective of this meeting is to develop practical roadmaps for implementing AfCFTA in order to extend its benefits to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Nano Enterprises and the big organisations located across the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in the State, thereby helping local businesses access the larger African market and contribute significantly to the Nigerian economy.

In her words, “I charge the Group to work to address factors that hinder exports of local products and services, streamline the process of trade, ensure seamless access to markets across Africa and encourage competitiveness. I anticipate that these measures will foster job creation, economic growth and promote sustainable development in the State”.

Describing the State Technical Working Group on AfCFTA as a collaborative body, Ososanya tasked members to get to work on the implementation and domestication of the Agreement at the grassroots level, while reiterating that sensitisation, provision of production hubs, co-opting Development Partners and creating a WhatsApp platform to exchange ideas will help speed up the achievement of the set goals.

She further said that a proposal has been put up to build a comprehensive Data Bank of all MSMEs in the State.

“The spirit of collaboration has been appreciable and this dialogue represents a significant step towards ensuring the successful implementation of AfCFTA in Lagos State. Our focus will no doubt assist in facilitating trade, empowering local economies and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the African marketplace.

“We look forward to future collaborations, as these initiatives will play significant roles in actualising Nigeria’s vision for successful adoption and implementation of AfCFTA, which will ultimately propel the country towards becoming a key player in the African and global economy”, she said.

Also speaking at the meeting, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Sewanu Hundogan advised that the STWG should be purpose-driven and ensure that structures are put in place, while the outcome of the meeting and recommendations should be implemented as appropriate.

Regional Coordinator, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Mr. Folorunso Akintunde informed members that about eight countries are ready to start trading using AfCFTA and Nigeria should not be left behind. He said the STWG has a lot to do to ensure the State taps into the immense benefits of the Agreement.

Chairman, Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) Professor Adebayo Adams said importation and exportation must take place to enable economic growth, it must not be a one-sided affair.

“No meaningful progress can be made without sustainable infrastructure to make the local products and services very competitive as the law of demand and supply must come to play, he said. Government should consider subsidising local productions through incentives so that locally made goods can be competitive”, he said.

Several key issues were discussed during the session, such as having MSMEs in clusters, setting up Commercial Desks at the Local Government level to serve as points for information and data, border matters, market access, free movement of goods and readiness for integration.

Also, issues surrounding documentation, certification, standardisation, branding and packaging were extensively discussed to ensure goods meet the required quality and safety standards across the continent.