President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to taking a leadership role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as the continent’s most ambitious economic integration project.
Represented by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, Tinubu made the declaration while opening the 39th Lagos International Trade Fair, organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
AfCFTA connects 1.4 billion people across Africa with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion. Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria must not only participate but lead the charge in shaping the future of intra-African trade. He said the trade fair offers a strategic platform to build partnerships, foster dialogue, and showcase Nigerian products—from textiles and cocoa to technology and creative arts—across the continent and beyond.
He assured investors that Nigeria is open for business and undergoing reforms to create a stable, transparent, and investor-friendly environment. These reforms include policy consistency, contract integrity, digitized ports, streamlined business permits, smarter taxation, and faster dispute resolution mechanisms.
“Let this fair be more than a marketplace. Let it be a platform for innovation, industrial rebirth, and shared prosperity,” Tinubu stated, adding that every product made in Nigeria is a statement of confidence in the country’s future.
LCCI President Gabriel Idahosa described the fair’s theme, “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value,” as timely and relevant. He praised the government’s active participation and highlighted the fair’s new multi-exhibition format, which allows visitors to explore diverse sectors within a vibrant ecosystem.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Commissioner Folashade Bada-Ambrose, echoed the call for investment, positioning Lagos as a dynamic hub of opportunity. “When you invest in Lagos, you invest in over 23 million dreamers and doers,” he said, inviting global partners to tap into the state’s progressive governance and thriving market.
Sanwo-Olu emphasized that Lagos is ready to drive Africa’s next growth chapter, declaring, “Lagos is ready to connect, compete, and create value for Africa and the world.”
