The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents one of the boldest steps towards economic integration on the continent. With its promise to connect 54 African countries, eliminate tariffs on 90 percent of goods, and boost intra-African trade, the framework was widely celebrated as a game-changer. Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy, finally joined the agreement on July 7, 2019, after prolonged consultations and cautious deliberations. Though late to the table, the nation was expected to lead the implementation phase and use its vast maritime potential to drive trade across the region.
Over the years, the AfCFTA Coordination Office in Nigeria has made appreciable efforts to position the country for success. It has engaged with key stakeholders, formulated strategic frameworks, conducted awareness campaigns, and supported pilot trading under the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI). These steps are commendable. In July 2024, Nigeria witnessed its first official shipments under the GTI—a major symbolic milestone. The office has also worked with private sector players to identify priority products, develop export readiness among SMEs, and align national trade policies with AfCFTA objectives. These are foundational moves, and they have begun to create momentum across different sectors.
However, in the maritime sector—the main artery for trade, the impact of AfCFTA has been, at best, modest. Despite the optimism that followed Nigeria’s accession, the expected transformation in port operations, maritime logistics, and regional trade flows have not materialized in any visible or measurable way. Nigeria’s ports, while not as congested as often portrayed, still operate below their potential in relation to AfCFTA’s aspirations. The pace of aligning maritime infrastructure, procedures, and regulatory frameworks with the demands of a seamless intra-African trade has been slow.
Several major ports, including the newly-built Lekki Deep Seaport, remain underutilised for AfCFTA-specific exports, and the volume of trade moving under the continental agreement is still negligible.
Stakeholders in the maritime and shipping space continue to point to a disconnect between the national implementation of AfCFTA and port sector reforms.
The customs processes, while improved in some aspects, are yet to reflect the kind of efficiency and integration expected under a continental free trade system. Inland connectivity remains a challenge for traders, with limited multimodal options to move goods quickly and cost-effectively from production hubs to ports.
It is also clear that many freight forwarders, port operators, and maritime stakeholders are still grappling with a lack of clarity on AfCFTA procedures, documentation requirements, and market access protocols. This signals a gap between policy formulation and sector-wide capacity-building. While manufacturers and agribusiness exporters in some parts of the country are beginning to respond to AfCFTA opportunities, the shipping, logistics, and maritime sectors have yet to experience a significant upturn in demand or output linked directly to the agreement.
The position being expressed here is not intended to undermine the significant efforts made by the AfCFTA Coordination Office or the commitment Nigeria has shown so far. On the contrary, it seeks to call attention to an urgent reality – there is still a long road ahead, and the maritime industry must not be left behind in the national implementation agenda. Maritime trade is the lifeblood of continental commerce. If AfCFTA is to fulfill its promise in Nigeria, the sector must be deliberately and aggressively integrated into the country’s trade facilitation strategy.
Nigeria must accelerate the modernization of port systems, strengthen its port-to-port linkages with West and Central African neighbours, invest in port infrastructure tailored for regional exports, and align its port and customs regulations more closely with AfCFTA trade protocols. There is also an urgent need for Nigeria to take the development of her inland dry ports more seriously.
The efforts being made are important, but they need to be scaled up with speed, precision, and sector-specific focus.
As AfCFTA progresses into deeper implementation phases, there is no doubt that Nigeria stands to benefit immensely—given its strategic location, large consumer market, and dynamic private sector. However, without a visible transformation in the maritime sector, the country risks being a bystander rather than a driver in this historic continental trade journey. The time to act is now.
