The federal government has declared that the African Continental Free Trade Area has moved beyond negotiations and entered a critical implementation phase, urging Nigerian entrepreneurs and digital businesses to take the lead in driving cross-border trade across the continent.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, made the call during discussions at the Biashara Africa 2026 forum, where she challenged African leaders, policymakers, and businesses to dismantle long-standing barriers hindering intra-African trade and investment.
According to a statement issued on Thursday, the minister said Africa had spent years negotiating agreements and signing protocols, adding that the continent must now focus on practical implementation that delivers economic opportunities for businesses and citizens.
The minister, who spoke as the incoming Chair of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers, said recent policy actions across the continent showed that African countries were beginning to match political commitments with concrete reforms aimed at accelerating regional integration.
“As discussions continue at Biashara Africa 2026, one message remains clear: Africa has negotiated, signed, and agreed. Now, Africa must trade.
“A significant milestone has been recorded for African economic integration – the announcement by the Government of Togo to remove visa requirements for African passport holders and investors travelling into the country for short stays. This is another important signal that Africa is moving from aspiration to action,” Oduwole stated.
She commended the government of Togo for removing visa requirements for African passport holders and investors traveling into the country for short stays, describing the decision as a major breakthrough for mobility, trade, and investment across Africa.
Oduwole said the move represented a significant milestone for African economic integration and demonstrated growing commitment among African governments to build a truly connected continental market.
She said, “This is another important signal that Africa is moving from aspiration to action.
“We commend His Excellency President Faure Gnassingbé and the Government of Togo for taking decisive action that advances the spirit and objectives of the AfCFTA Agreement and reinforces Africa’s commitment to becoming a truly integrated market of over 1.4 billion people.”
The minister stressed that easing movement across African borders would help reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks that continue to discourage trade, investments, and business partnerships among African countries.
She warned that the success of AfCFTA would depend not only on government policies but also on the ability of African businesses, innovators, manufacturers, and startups to expand beyond domestic markets and build continental value chains.
“The future of the AfCFTA will not be built by policy alone. It will be driven by enterprises, innovators, manufacturers, digital platforms, and entrepreneurs who are ready to trade,” she stated.
