
Nigeria: Minister urges stronger private sector role in boosting intra-African trade
Addressing an audience of business leaders, diplomats, and policymakers, Tuggar emphasised that Africa stands at a critical juncture — one where business is no longer a peripheral concern but a strategic pillar of regional policy and diplomacy.
'This is the period in which the voice of business is not merely recognised at the margins, but is systematically institutionalised within the core processes of policy formulation and regional economic diplomacy.
'It reflects a deeper entanglement of corporate interests and statecraft, wherein the private sector emerges not as a peripheral stakeholder but as a central architect of economic governance frameworks,' Tuggar stated.
While outlining the opportunities, the Minister also presented a stark picture of the current reality. Citing recent data, he revealed that intra-African trade accounts for only 15 percent of total trade on the continent, with the figure dropping to between 12 percent and 13 percent in West Africa. In contrast, intra-regional trade in Asia hovers around 60 percent, and Europe nears 70 percent, highlighting a significant gap.
Tuggar pointed out that the constraints to West Africa's economic integration are not a matter of potential, but rather of practical shortcomings — infrastructure gaps, weak coordination, and a lack of sustained political commitment.
'The challenge lies not in envisioning a prosperous, interconnected region, but in establishing the institutional mechanisms, logistical frameworks, and governance consensus required to actualise that vision,' he said.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged progress in recent years, citing efforts such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the Abidjan-Lagos and Abidjan-Dakar transport corridors, SIGMAT, the West African Power Pool, and the planned African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline.
'These are not just abstract ideas — they are West-African-led initiatives that will prove advantageous to businesses across the sub-region in the near future,' he affirmed.
Tuggar also expressed concern over rising global protectionism and the reordering of global tariff systems, noting that such developments make regional alignment even more essential.
'In a world witnessing protectionist tendencies from global market leaders, it is only right that neighbours and regional blocs align for the common good of their people.
'The West African response must be clear and deliberate, not reactionary and disjointed. That is why WAES is a timely and strategic platform,' he said.
WAES, scheduled for June 20–21, 2025, in Abuja, is a flagship initiative championed by Nigeria's President and supported by other West African leaders. According to Tuggar, the Summit aims to shift the region from dependency to productivity, and from fragmented markets to integrated value chains.
'The idea is to use our size to generate efficient productivity in order to outcompete others in the global market,' he explained. 'A broader West African market will drive down costs and enable our businesses to scale up and compete internationally.'
WAES is expected to bring together Heads of State, Ministers, investors, and key stakeholders from across West Africa, along with private sector leaders. The Minister underscored the importance of this inclusion, stating that business voices must directly influence policy decisions.
'When we succeed in integration, when we improve on policy predictability, secure property rights, and the effectiveness of contracts — investors will come,' Tuggar said. 'This is the largest market on the continent, and it must be leveraged.'
He emphasized the need for candid conversations between the private sector and policymakers during WAES. 'We're bringing along the decision makers to hear directly from you — to understand the challenges, identify the low-hanging fruits, and even resolve some issues on the spot,' he said.
Tuggar urged participants not to underestimate the impact they could have. 'Sometimes it just takes one phone call. We are serious about removing barriers to business so that commerce can thrive,' he said. 'It's not just about size, it's about scale — the kind of scale West Africa provides.'
He commended Nigerian companies already operating across the sub-region — in banking, cement, fertilizer, fintech, and startups — as evidence that cross-border business is both viable and beneficial.
He concluded by reinforcing the collective nature of the challenge: 'Let's not forget — it's not just Nigerian policymakers involved. Policymakers from other countries are also on board. Heads of State will be there. So let's work together to resolve the problems and build an integrated, competitive West African economy.'
As anticipation builds ahead of the June 20–21 Summit in Abuja, Tuggar's message was clear: the future of Africa's economic strength lies in regional collaboration, and the private sector must lead the charge.
Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio Arrives In Monrovia For Liberia's 178th Independence Celebration
His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has arrived safely in Monrovia at the invitation of His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to participate in celebrations marking Liberia's 178th Independence Anniversary. President Bio was warmly received on arrival by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh Jr., alongside a high-level delegation from the Liberian Foreign Ministry. Also in attendance at the national celebration are three other Heads of State from the West African sub-region: President John Dramani Mahama of the Republic of Ghana, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of the Republic of Senegal. Liberia's Independence Day holds deep significance as the first African republic to declare independence, standing as a symbol of African self-governance and democratic resilience. Sierra Leone and Liberia continue to enjoy strong bilateral relations rooted in shared history, mutual respect, and cooperation in key areas such as cross-border security, economic development, and cultural heritage preservation. The two nations remain committed to regional stability and peacebuilding efforts across West Africa. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.

Zawya
8 hours ago
- Zawya
West African advisers to boost agribusiness e-commerce
Small agribusinesses in Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire are eager to tap into regional markets, but limited digital skills and poor access to online platforms hold them back. Without targeted support, these businesses struggle to embrace e-commerce and expand beyond their local base. To close this gap, the International Trade Centre trained national advisors and support institutions to help agribusinesses go digital and sell across borders. Many small agribusinesses in West Africa face barriers to reaching broader markets due to poor digital skills, low online visibility, and little access to e-commerce. These challenges hold back their potential to scale and engage in regional trade. To help close this gap, the International Trade Centre (ITC), under its ECOWAS Agricultural Trade (EAT) programme, organized a regional training of trainers in April in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The five-day workshop brought together six newly appointed e-commerce advisors (three from each country) and eight representatives from business support organizations in Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire. They received the tools and knowledge to support 30 agribusinesses—15 in each country—to trade online across the region. The participating advisors were selected for their potential to act as national champions for e-commerce capacity building. They were joined by eight representatives from four partner business support organizations: the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d'Ivoire (CCI-CI) and the National Chamber of Agriculture of Côte d'Ivoire (CNA-CI). This diverse mix fostered strong cross-border peer learning and established the foundation for sustained collaboration between national institutions. 'In my view, agro-processors will need this hands-on training to increase their visibility," said Ibrahima Bamba, Agricultural Advisor at the National Chamber of Agriculture of Côte d'Ivoire. Anuoluwapo Odubanjo, e-commerce Advisor for Nigeria added: 'Thanks to this training, I'm ready to support agribusinesses in developing tailored e-commerce strategies—from choosing the right platforms to managing online sales—so they can scale up their operations." The training covered digital marketing, online payment systems, shipping logistics, and customer service. Using interactive tools such as real-life case studies and peer learning, the sessions fostered collaboration and built confidence among participants. The impact is evident: 11 participants reported a significant improvement in their skills, and many left with action plans to support small businesses in their communities. From training rural entrepreneurs to helping businesses list on e-commerce platforms, the new advisors are ready to make a tangible impact. Since its launch in 2018, the programme has worked to bridge digital gaps and promote trade-ready agribusinesses in West Africa. By investing in local expertise, ITC's EAT programme is laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and digitally connected agricultural economy in West Africa. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs signs a book of condolences for the passing of former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
On 18 July 2025, H.E. Mr. Russ Jalichandra, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, signed the book of condolences for the passing of H.E. Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Bangkok. The Vice Minister was received by Mr. Richard Aladetoyinbo, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Thailand. The Chargé d'Affaires expressed his sincere gratitude to this kind gesture, which reflects cordial relations between the Thailand and Nigeria. Both sides also took this opportunity to discuss further enhancement of bilateral cooperations between the two countries. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand.