President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria will intensify collaboration with other African countries to expand intra-African trade, boost value addition across the continent and position Africa to compete more confidently in the global economy through digital commerce.
The President said his administration would sustain reforms aimed at dismantling barriers to trade, modernising border processes and connecting African markets through technology, stressing that the future of commerce on the continent lies in digital integration.
Tinubu made the remarks on Wednesday in a message posted on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, while welcoming African policymakers, innovators, investors, entrepreneurs and private sector leaders to Lagos for the 2026 African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Forum.
According to the President, Africa has reached a decisive point where it must move beyond declarations and begin translating continental agreements into tangible economic opportunities.
“This year’s Forum, themed ‘Digital Trade for a Connected African Market,’ comes at a defining moment. Africa must now move from aspiration to execution, and from agreements on paper to prosperity in the lives of our people.”
Tinubu said Nigeria was proud to serve as one of Africa’s AfCFTA Digital Trade Champions and was backing that responsibility with concrete policy actions to accelerate trade and economic integration.
He identified the National Single Window as a cornerstone of his administration’s trade facilitation agenda, explaining that the platform would create a faster, simpler and more transparent trading system by reducing delays, improving regulatory compliance, cutting transaction costs and supporting importers, exporters, manufacturers and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
The President also highlighted the Nigeria Customs Service’s B’Odogwu platform, saying it is modernising customs administration through improved revenue assurance, faster cargo clearance and reduced friction at Nigeria’s borders.
According to him, the reforms are part of a broader digital public infrastructure programme encompassing digital identity, interoperable payment systems, data governance and digital platforms that enable Nigerian businesses to access both African and international markets.
Tinubu further disclosed that Nigeria, alongside Morocco and Kenya, is piloting the AfCFTA’s ADAPT framework to connect national trade systems across Africa.
“The AfCFTA gives Africa the market. Digital trade gives that market speed, scale and reach.”
He expressed confidence that Africa’s economic future would be driven by digital trade, adding that Nigeria would continue working with other African nations to build a continent that trades more within itself, creates greater value from its resources and competes confidently in the global marketplace.
Deji Elumoye
