The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is aimed at creating a single market for goods and services and boost Intra-African trade. The Agreement to create the AfCFTA, which has been signed by 54 African countries, stipulates its governing principles. Two of the governing principles are that the AfCFTA is to be driven by African Union (AU) member states and that the Regional Economic Communities’ (RECs) Free Trade Areas will serve as building blocs for the AfCFTA.
In this article, Rebecca Ebokpo, Senior Associate, narrows down these two principles by considering Nigeria as one of the AU member states and the Economic Community of West African States as one of the RECs. She also discusses Nigeria’s ongoing trade negotiations in preparation for the implementation of the Agreement.