By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, reaffirmed Nigeria’s resolve to work towards building an Africa where borders are efficient enough to facilitate trade and other economic opportunities, rather than hindering them.
The President implored African nations to be disciplined in working towards building borders that meet the high demands and rapid pace of contemporary technological advancement.
Speaking in Abuja when he declared open the Customs Pact – Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade, President Tinubu expressed delight at being part of the event, which brought together partners and leaders from across the continent, saying it demonstrates the collective resolve to discard the old habit of accepting slow borders as destiny.
The President, represented by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, stated that while nations exist to complement one another, size, resources, and talent are inconsequential if they are trapped behind inefficient borders and fragmented markets.
“Nigeria remains firmly committed, structurally and operationally, to building an Africa that trades by design, where integration is practical, measurable and effective. Our ambition is simple: a continent where borders facilitate opportunities rather than inhibit them,” he declared.
Maintaining that “fragmented markets cannot achieve industrial scale, negotiate effectively with global powers, or withstand external shocks, the Nigerian leader noted, however, that integration “enables large-scale industrialisation, collective bargaining strength and resilient supply chains.”
Nigeria, according to him, is approaching this responsibility with practical systems and infrastructure rather than rhetoric, even as he noted that the strength of a continental market can only be engineered, not declared.
Tinubu stated that while Africa had already taken a significant step by agreeing on integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), what is crucial at the moment is its effective execution.
“Success will be judged not by communiqués but by real outcomes: shorter border-crossing times, reliable local-currency settlements and efficient movement of goods across borders and ports. Our vision must translate from conference halls to the daily experiences of traders, manufacturers, logistics operators and farmers,” he maintained.
The President recalled that the urge to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians informed his administration’s decision to reform “structural barriers to trade and investment, removing bottlenecks that limit competitiveness, and rebuilding institutions for efficient regional integration.”
In achieving this, he said the administration quickly embarked on unifying the foreign exchange window, removing fuel subsidies to redirect resources to critical infrastructure, and modernising port operations with 24-hour clearance.
He continued, “We adopted the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System to boost intra-African trade, and we prioritised non-oil export growth across key sectors. These reforms reinforce one another, creating a coherent foundation for stronger continental commerce and competitiveness.
“Each decision was a step towards a Nigeria that trades with confidence and an Africa that negotiates from a position of strength.
“We believe that our institutions have been deliberately aligned into a unified trade-enablement architecture, dismantling the traditional silos that once separated agencies. The Nigeria Customs Service now advances digital clearance systems and risk-based inspections.
“The Nigerian Ports Authority drives port efficiency. The Central Bank enables local-currency settlements through PAPSS. The Standards Organisation harmonises product standards with continental frameworks. NEPC and NEXIM Bank strengthen export readiness and provide targeted financing.”
Tinubu described the National Single Window as central to Nigeria’s continental trade strategy, assuring that phase one of the transformative digital platform will go live in March 2026, “with full rollout by December 2026.
Earlier, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, was represented by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, who urged relevant authorities in Africa to continue dismantling barriers that hinder trade and revenue generation.
She stressed that the Federal Government of Nigeria remains committed to supporting modernisation initiatives within customs administrations and aligning with global best practices aimed at creating a business-friendly environment.
The minister further expressed Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring that AfCFTA delivers tangible benefits for citizens while improving the ease of doing business at the borders.
On her part, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, stated that under President Tinubu’s decisive leadership, the administration has achieved a unified exchange rate, strengthened fiscal discipline, and is on track to accelerate regional economic integration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She maintained that Nigeria’s commitment to AfCFTA implementation remains unwavering, while urging participants to build an Africa that trades more with itself.
Additionally, Ian Saunders, Secretary-General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), applauded the ongoing reforms by the Tinubu administration, assuring that the WCO stands in support of Nigeria in facilitating legitimate trade.
He also praised heads of Africa’s Customs for their efforts in incorporating modern standards into their operations, adding that leadership, investment, and consolidating gains in customs administration remain valuable.
The Executive Vice President of Afreximbank, Kanayo Awani, backed modernisation as a positive initiative adopted by several customs administrations, including Nigeria.
Also, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, urged relevant authorities and stakeholders to adopt cross-country trade facilitation and integration, emphasising, “We cannot continue to work in silos.”
According to Adeniyi, the primary outcome of the engagement in Abuja, which involved all African regions, is to ensure that customs administrations are more actively engaged in AfCFTA implementation, while strengthening dialogue and mutual understanding between customs administrations and the private sector across the continent.
He said, “I should say that the vision we’re pursuing here aligns perfectly with the direction set by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Mr President has been clear about his commitment to improving trade nationally through trade-friendly policies, with growing intra-African trade at the centre of his strategic thinking.
“That presidential vision gives this gathering added significance and underscores Nigeria’s determination to be at the forefront of continental integration.
“And we’re beginning to see tangible evidence that this approach is working. In the first half of 2025, Nigeria’s trade with other African countries reached ₦4.82 trillion, an increase of more than ₦600 billion compared to the previous year. This is a clear signal of strengthening regional trade momentum.
“Within West Africa specifically, Nigeria’s exports to ECOWAS countries have climbed significantly, reflecting our growing role as a hub for intra-continental trade and value chains. As we deepen our partnerships across African markets, embrace customs and logistics modernisation and implement the AfCTFA framework more deliberately, we are turning these gains into broader regional prosperity.”
The Secretary-General of AfCFTA, Wamkele Mene, assured that the Secretariat will work closely with the NCS to ensure that the objectives of C-PACT become a reality.
