Maritime industry expert, Dr. Segun Musa, has warned that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will not deliver meaningful benefits for Nigeria unless backed by clear, holistic, and measurable policies.
Speaking at a roundtable organized by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), Musa criticized Nigeria’s “ceremonial participation” in AfCFTA, arguing that genuine engagement should be reflected in export volumes and measurable benchmarks rather than symbolic media showcases.
“If we were serious under this scheme, we should be talking about exporting 200,000 to 300,000 containers by now — even up to a million. Instead, we are celebrating one or two containers and gathering media houses to showcase them. Is that participation? It’s painful for a country of this size,” he said.
Policy Gaps and Institutional Readiness
Musa stressed that policy frameworks must be predictive, structured, and outcome-driven. He argued that Nigeria’s challenge lies not in declarations but in institutional readiness and structured participation.
He also questioned the effectiveness of the proposed National Single Window, a government initiative touted as a major trade facilitation reform.
“Single window? What change will it bring? Nothing will change if the agencies inside that system are not competent and ready. You cannot pull the cart before the horse,” Musa noted.
While acknowledging the importance of digitisation, Musa cautioned that technology alone cannot resolve deep-rooted inefficiencies. Without performance standards and accountability mechanisms, he warned, the Single Window risks becoming “just another jamboree.”
“You must ensure the agents are ready before you start talking about digitisation. Otherwise, it will remain a single window in name, while inefficiency continues behind it,” he added.
Drawing on his 36 years of industry experience, Musa emphasized that his position was based on technical knowledge and integrity rather than pessimism. He urged Nigeria to move beyond rhetoric and adopt practical, measurable strategies.
He compared Nigeria’s export performance with Europe and Asia, noting that serious trading economies prioritize volume and competitiveness over symbolic shipments.
Musa concluded with a warning: without concrete benchmarks, coordinated institutional reforms, and export-driven strategies, Nigeria risks squandering the opportunities presented by AfCFTA.
The roundtable ended with renewed calls for actionable policies, institutional competence, and measurable targets to ensure AfCFTA translates into tangible economic gains rather than remaining, in Musa’s words, “a wasteful exercise.”