President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said Africa’s integration will be measured by practical results such as quicker border crossings, dependable local-currency settlements, and smoother movement of goods through ports and land crossings.
He delivered the message in Abuja at the opening of the Customs Pact – Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
He said African economies cannot withstand global pressures if they remain fragmented, adding that traders and manufacturers must see real improvements in their daily operations, not just policy announcements. He said integration must show up in how fast trucks move across borders and how reliably businesses settle transactions within the continent.
Tinubu called for disciplined reforms across African states to align border systems with modern technology and economic priorities. He said the African Continental Free Trade Area set the ambition, but implementation will determine success. Nigeria’s strategy, he noted, rests on infrastructure, digital platforms and stronger institutional coordination.
He listed the unification of the foreign-exchange window, removal of fuel subsidies, modernised port operations and 24-hour clearance as key reforms undertaken by his administration to support trade. He said Nigeria adopted the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System to strengthen intra-African trade and continues to prioritise non-oil export growth.
Tinubu outlined Nigeria’s integrated trade-enablement framework, noting that the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, Central Bank of Nigeria, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and NEXIM Bank now work on aligned mandates. Customs, he said, has deployed digital clearance tools and risk-based checks, while the Central Bank supports local-currency settlements through PAPSS.
He announced the rollout of the National Single Window platform, with first-phase launch expected in March 2026 and full deployment in December 2026. The system will allow businesses to file trade documents once on a unified digital portal and will cut cargo clearance time from 21 days to under seven. He said the platform aligns fully with AfCFTA digital standards.
Tinubu highlighted indicators showing progress, including projected growth of intra-African trade from 15 percent in 2023 to 25 percent by 2030. He said Nigeria’s non-oil exports to African markets rose by 38 percent in 2024, while clearance times at major ports have fallen by 30 percent. He said these results show that when barriers fall and systems work consistently, continental trade expands rapidly.
