21, January 2025
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Vice President, Air and Logistics of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF Segun Musa, has lamented the lacklustre attitude of Nigeria’s African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA Coordination body.
Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, Musa described the body’s approach as overly theoretical and ineffective, citing its preference for “talk shows” over practical solutions.
He expressed frustration with the committee charged with facilitating Nigeria’s participation in the free trade agreement, stating that they have made little progress beyond paper presentations and abstract discussions.
He said: “They are not doing anything. Most of their engagements have been reduced to talk shows where they deliver speeches. We are not in an era of delivering papers; we need dialogue, practical strategies, and action plans”.
Continuing, he revealed that the AfCFTA committee had failed to attend critical meetings, further highlighting their lack of commitment.
“During our last meeting, the body responsible for AfCFTA facilitation did not show up. This demonstrates their unseriousness. If the government truly intends to improve the economy, they need to ensure such committees focus on tangible outcomes rather than endless discussions”.
“I have participated in their discussions, and everything revolves around theory. There’s no practical engagement, and this has hindered progress. To date, I haven’t seen any real effort from them.
“If they are serious, they should engage those of us ready for practical dialogue and focus on how to build Nigeria’s capacity to participate in the continental trade. Their avoidance of public discussions only confirms their lack of direction.
“AfCFTA is a huge opportunity, but without a solid plan and active stakeholder involvement, Nigeria will continue to lag behind,” he said.
(www.naija247news.com)
