Ranmilowo Ojalumo
Following the ratification of the Nigeria membership of African Continent Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) by the Federal Executive Council (NEC) on November 11, 2020 and the commencement of the trade agreement in January 2021 as scheduled, stakeholders in the maritime sector have expressed doubt over Nigeria readiness to actively participate and take full advantage of the trade agreement.
Various stakeholders that attended the roundtable forum, a news discussion session, organised by the Maritime Journalists’ Association of Nigeria (MAJAN), in Apapa recently voiced out that Nigeria is ill-prepared despite the tremendous opportunity offered by the continental trade agreement.
AfCFTA has 55 member countries as its trade area with a cumulative population of 1.3 billion people and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) value of $3.4 trillion annually. The topic for the MAJAN roundtable discussion was “African Continental Free Trade Agreement: How Ready Are Maritime Stakeholders to Key into the Concept?”
While speaking at the event, one of the guest speakers who is the Managing Director/CEO of Mac-Manuel Global Logistics, Mr Emeka Enwelu, who is also the National Vice President, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), emphatically said Nigeria government is not ready for AfCFTA because the level of enlightenment is very low.
He therefore commended MAJAN for holding the event to create awareness about the continental trade agreement. He said “I’m really impressed by the level of reportage and enlightenment MAJAN is giving the Industry. It is quite beneficial for the growth of the sector. “I commend your President for his visionary leadership. Stakeholders are very happy with what MAJAN is doing in the maritime industry. We received your Communique on the programme you did recently on Apapa traffic gridlock and its toll on businesses. Only last week, we saw another programme you did on Investigative Journalism, and today, you are discussing AfCFTA; your effort is highly appreciated”.
He however worried that the Government has not done much in educating those concerned about AfCFTA, lamenting that nobody has reached out to stakeholders in the maritime despite the importance of the sector.
“Government signed AfCFTA when our land borders were still closed. It shows that we are not prepared. We just entered into an important trade agreement without adequate preparation. The only things we have are the population and a large market. I wonder Why such a huge continental business deal would be shrouded in secrecy, when it ought to have been on the lips of everybody just like Covid-19 is”, Enwelu said.
Also speaking at the event, the Registrar, National Association of Government Aapproved Freight Fowarders (NAGAFF) Academy, Fwdr Francis Omotosho, who was also a guest speaker at the forum reiterated that regional trade agreements vary and depends on the level of commitment and arrangement among member countries.
He said “such agreement comes with internal rules that member countries must follow which include removal of trade barriers; free movement of goods and services across the region; Customs Union of Member countries which must reduce trade barriers to enhance seamless cargo clearance.
“Free import and export of resources must be allowed; member countries have to adopt a set of economic policies and use of one currency; regional integration must be encouraged. “Investors, who want to put money in developing countries, must be protected against political risk”, Omotosho said.
The NAGAFF registrar also noted that AfCFTA has economic benefits, which include increase in foreign direct investments (FDI) and reduction in trade tariff, adding that the agreement will help to remove trade barriers and as well boosts economic growth, creates jobs and paves the way for market expansion.
Meanwhile, the MAJAN President, Comrade Ray Ugochukwu has stated that MAJAN would continue to discuss with relevant stakeholders and enlighten the public through responsible reportage. In his remarks, Ugochukwu noted that AfCFTA worths over $3. 4trillion annually and has the tendency to increase over the years, hence Nigeria needs to actively participate in the trade.
“As journalists, our duty is to enlighten the masses through our reports. This is what MAJAN is doing as a group. Our maiden national Maritime Summit on ‘Apapa traffic gridlock’ is slated for March, 2021. We’re optimistic that our modest contribution towards addressing the nightmare Apapa gridlock has become will yield good results. The summit will provide a good platform for stakeholders, regulatory agencies and government departments involved, to proffer lasting solutions to the perennial gridlock at Apapa ports access roads.”
