The National Coordinator, Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Olusegun Awolowo, has called for strengthening of maritime security towards enhanced cross-border trade and effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
He made the called on Wednesday at the ongoing 2024 Abuja Forum Conference in Zhengyang, China, themed Effecting The Spirit Of The Beijing Summit Of The Forum On China-Africa Cooperation, Promoting Shared Goals For The Future Of China-Africa Modernization.
The conference organised by African Research Institute of Zhejiang Normal University, Center for Nigerian Studies under the Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University and Gusau Institute, aimed at proffering solutions to maritime piracy incidents that hinder the benefits of AfCFTA and undermining cross-border trade.
In his presentation titled AfCFTA Implementation and the Spirit of the Beijing Summit: A Call for Shared Goals and China-Africa Collaboration on Maritime Issues, Awolowo submitted that maritime issues continue to hinder Africa’s ability to realize AfCFTA’s full potential, with shipping challenges persisting as substantial barriers.
Awolowo, who was represented by the Senior Trade Policy and Law Expert/Lead at the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Olusegun Olutayo, said: “Shipping routes between Africa and global markets, still involve protracted travel days and costly fees that hinder the competitiveness of African exports. In light of this, the time is ripe for concerted, transformative efforts that draw on the spirit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and its ambition for a “global community of shared future,” as introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.”
Speaking on inclusive economic environment through AfCFTA, Awolowo said, “AfCFTA’s rules of origin provide a unique opportunity for foreign companies to establish a base within an AfCFTA country, enabling them to export to other African states with preferential tariffs”.
He said Nigeria is a strategic gateway for accessing the broader African market under AfCFTA, adding that, “Nigeria’s objective under AfCFTA is to attract quality investments that will accelerate our industrialization, strengthen local manufacturing, and develop value-adding agro-processing centers”.
Awolowo assured participants that, “We are positioning Nigeria as a prime investment destination, where Chinese firms can harness the benefits of preferential trade within AfCFTA’s framework, supporting Nigeria’s industrialization while capitalizing on AfCFTA’s expansive market access. The Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office is committed to deeper collaboration with Chinese partners to actualize these opportunities in Nigeria’s comparative advantage sectors”.
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To AfCFTA’s goals, Awolowo called for a joint China-Africa maritime infrastructure fund, collaborative security and piracy mitigation program, and promoting sustainable maritime practices through knowledge transfer and technology exchange to drive sustainable trade practices that would ultimately benefit both China and Africa in shared modernization goals.
In his Technical Remarks: Security Cooperation for Development through AfCFTA and the Dar es Salaam Consensus, Olutayo who is an International Trade Expert, asserts that without adequate security measures at all levels in Africa, our aspiration for enhanced trade under AfCFTA is at risk and remain a mirage.
According to Olutayo, Kinetic responses alone are insufficient to address the complex insecurity affecting trade routes, borders, and production centers in Africa, adding that security cooperation across African nations holds strategic value for AfCFTA’s success .
Advocating a non-military approach to ensure the safe passage of goods and people across borders, Olutayo stressed that a security strategy rooted in diplomacy, economic development, and community engagement offers a sustainable path for achieving AfCFTA’s objectives.
Olutayo called for Enhance Intelligence and Security Data Sharing Across Borders, Adopting Non-Kinetic Security Measures to Foster Economic Inclusion, Implementing a Trade-Driven Security Strategy, and Community-Centric Security and Economic Empowerment Programs towards achieving safe and secured maritime trade routes.
