The Federal Government has commenced the training of three million Nigerian exporters on the rules guiding trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

This initiative, driven by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO), is designed to position the country to fully benefit from opportunities within the continental trade pact.

The National Coordinator of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, announced the development in Abuja during the AfCFTA Rules of Origin Workshop, which brought together members of Nigeria’s Organised Private Sector, SMEs, and key stakeholders. His remarks were contained in a statement issued on Friday.

The Nigeria Customs Service is facilitating the training, which aims to equip Nigerian businesses with the essential knowledge and practical skills to understand and apply the AfCFTA’s rules of origin—requirements that determine the national source of a product.

Awolowo noted that the training supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in areas such as human capital development, trade expansion, and inclusive economic growth.

“The Rules of Origin are fundamental to securing preferential trade access across the African continent,” Awolowo said. “Business owners must grasp and effectively apply these rules to actively participate in this new era of continental trade.”

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, Deputy Comptroller-General for Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to maximise the benefits of the AfCFTA. She emphasised the Customs Service’s commitment to supporting serious-minded exporters and improving trade processes.

She also highlighted improvements in the Service’s ICT infrastructure and the establishment of a dedicated export command, both of which are aimed at easing the exportation of goods under the agreement.

Speaking on behalf of the WCO, Faith Mathenge explained that the EU-WCO Origin for Africa Programme—funded by the European Union and launched in July 2022—is supporting customs administrations, government agencies, and the private sector in applying rules of origin. The programme focuses on building capacity across sectors to enhance intra-African and global trade.

“In partnership with the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, our objective is to strengthen cross-sector expertise in rules of origin to elevate Nigeria’s trade performance regionally and internationally,” Mathenge said.

The training initiative is expected to empower Nigerian exporters to leverage the AfCFTA framework, expanding their market reach across the continent and boosting national economic growth. With this strategic move, Nigeria is laying the groundwork for increased exports, business expansion, and job creation.

The AfCFTA agreement is seen as a transformative opportunity for Africa’s economy, aiming to establish a unified market for goods and services. By training three million exporters, Nigeria is making a bold step toward unlocking these benefits and driving sustainable development.