AfCFTA Endorses Nigeria-Led C-PACT Initiative to Revolutionize Intra-African Trade

By Emmanuel Kwada 

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has officially endorsed the Customs-Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT), a groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

The announcement, made on Tuesday, marks a pivotal step toward enhancing intra-African trade and fostering sustainable economic growth.

NCS Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi and Mene

The endorsement was highlighted during a high-profile meeting in Accra, where AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene welcomed NCS Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi.

Mene praised C-PACT as a vital alignment with the AfCFTA’s mission to streamline customs processes and facilitate smoother cross-border trade. “This initiative represents a unified vision for Africa’s economic prosperity,” Mene said, emphasizing its potential to break down longstanding trade barriers.

C-PACT, set to be launched at a conference in Abuja from November 17 to 19, aims to drive transparency, promote lawful trade, and bolster sustainable development.

With the support of the WCO and Afreximbank, C-PACT will pave the way for shared prosperity across the continent

Adeniyi, who also chairs the World Customs Organisation (WCO), underscored the initiative’s role in strengthening Africa’s economic integration.

“With the support of the WCO and Afreximbank, C-PACT will pave the way for shared prosperity across the continent,” he stated during the Accra discussions.

The initiative builds on the AfCFTA’s ambitious goals, which include eliminating tariffs on most goods and services over the next 5 to 13 years, depending on a country’s development level.

According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the agreement is projected to boost intra-African trade by an impressive 52% by 2022—a target that C-PACT is poised to accelerate.

Visuals from the meetings showcased a spirit of collaboration, with Adeniyi and Mene exchanging a commemorative plaque against the backdrop of the Nigerian flag and a map of Africa.

This initiative represents a unified vision for Africa’s economic prosperity

Subsequent images depicted strategic discussions with key stakeholders, including military and trade officials, signaling a multi-faceted approach to the initiative’s implementation.

Nigeria’s leadership in this endeavor comes at a critical time, as the continent seeks to leverage its diverse economies for mutual benefit. With the Abuja conference on the horizon, experts anticipate that C-PACT will set a new standard for customs cooperation, potentially inspiring similar efforts across other African nations.

As Africa gears up for this transformative trade milestone, all eyes will be on Abuja in mid-November, where the full scope of C-PACT’s impact is expected to unfold.

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