The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has urged Federal Government to sign African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to enable Nigerians around Africa repatriate their wealth to the country.
President of the chamber, Mr Adetokunbo Kayode, made the call in a statement signed by Mr Reuben Lubem, Media and Strategy Officer of the chamber, in Abuja.
The statement said that Kayode made the call at a retreat for executive members of the chamber in Akure, Ondo state.
“We have nothing to lose by signing this all-important document. We only have gains accruing to us therefrom.
“Nigerians are competitive and the Federal Government should add impetus to their drive by signing this agreement to enable them trade in goods, services and skills all over the continent.
“The world is moving on and there is no need for the giant of Africa to be dragging its feet over signing this document which has so much to offer the people thereby enhancing their socio-economic wellbeing.
“It is sad enough that other smaller African countries that are far less endowed with natural and human potential have strategically positioned themselves to benefit from the initiative.
“But, I am optimistic that we will sign it consequently.
“The time to do so is now in order to start negotiating our way through it. It is always better to negotiate from within than to remain on the sideline,’’ he added.
On the need to generate internal development across the federation, Kayode urged state governments to support and encourage chambers of commerce in their respective areas as a way of promoting prosperity and wealth creation.
He pointed out that the creation of wealth through agriculture and small and medium scale enterprises would reduce criminality and significantly improve on the internally-generated revenue of the tiers of government in the country.
He urged the governments to demarcate industrial zones in all the 774 local government areas in the country.
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