The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to harmonize its strategies and strengthen cooperation across sectors to fast-track the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mr. Eugene Nweke, Head Researcher at SEREC, made the call in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja, emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated efforts to fully leverage the vast opportunities presented by AfCFTA.
Ratification and Domestication of Key Protocols
Nweke highlighted the importance of ratifying and domestically implementing critical charters and protocols necessary for regional integration. Among these, he specifically mentioned the Road Safety Charter, Maritime Transport Charter, and the Luxembourg Protocol on Railway Rolling Stock.
He stressed that establishing an enabling environment for the private sector and fostering public-private partnerships is crucial to building institutional capacities and creating the necessary policy and regulatory frameworks.
In addition, Nweke recommended the designation of a national correspondence desk to improve coordination and coverage of AfCFTA-related activities, ensuring Nigeria stays actively engaged.
Addressing Infrastructure Challenges
One of the key concerns raised by Nweke was the slow pace of infrastructure development, which threatens to undermine Nigeria’s competitiveness and participation in global markets under AfCFTA. He referred to the ambitious projections of constructing 60,000 to 100,000 kilometers of new roads by 2030 to improve intercontinental connectivity but warned that meeting this target may be unrealistic.
Nweke cited the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa Priority Action Plan 2 (PIDA-PAP2), which outlines 69 large-scale projects with a combined estimated cost exceeding $160 billion over ten years. However, he noted significant challenges in financing and project execution, with 50% of projects from the previous phase (PIDA-PAP1) failing to reach construction and 30% not progressing beyond feasibility studies.
Despite these hurdles, some progress has been made: over 16,000 kilometers of roads and more than 4,000 kilometers of railways have been developed, while the energy sector has seen the installation of 3,506 kilometers of transmission lines, helping connect African electrical grids and generating 232 GW of electricity.
Call for Transparency and Proactive Governance
Nweke urged the Nigerian government to address policy, regulatory, financial, technical, and capacity barriers that impede universal infrastructure service delivery. He also called for proactive measures to mitigate emerging challenges such as climate change and global supply chain disruptions.
To ensure accountability and effective implementation, Nweke advised Nigerians and stakeholders to demand transparency and regular information dissemination from the AfCFTA implementation secretariat.
“This is the only way Nigeria can truly benefit from AfCFTA and achieve its developmental goals,” he concluded.
