ISDS Case Map
Nigeria
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari said the country will sign up soon to a $3 trillion African free-trade agreement.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) said the issues raised by major stakeholders, including those expressed by manufacturers, still remained unattended to.
Stakeholders in the Organised Private Sector have called for safeguards against a sudden surge in imports that may follow Nigeria’s eventual signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.
Eschewing the ACFTA and EPA may be a blessing in disguise for Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria very explicitly stated to the new Ambassador of the European Union that Nigeria was determined not to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement for West Africa.
It appears from all indications that the African private sector is either kept at the back door or yet to be given a pride of place in the AfCFTA process.
The implementation of common ECOWAS tariff will make Nigeria lose businesses because it means that once a tariff is paid in one country, no other tariff will be paid in any other country in West Africa.
The President said he had been reluctant to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement among ECOWAS countries because of the need to protect the economy, especially the industries and small businesses that currently provide jobs for majority of Nigerians.
Uganda, in many ways like Nigeria, will investigate concerns by a sector of the business community before making major commitments.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said his government has already commenced wider consultations on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, CFTA.
