As Nigeria has signed the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the African Union (AU) Trade Policy Ambassador, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode has congratulated the country and called for commitment to its principles and activities.

 

In a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Prince Kayode who is also the President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) called on the government to also note that all hands must on the deck to ensure that the Organised Private Sector (OPS) is involved in all the steps of the Agreement.

 

“It is gladdening that Nigeria has signed this agreement in the gathering of African leaders in Niamey, Niger Republic. This is just but one of the steps towards benefitting from the policy.

 

“The next stage is the ratification phase. The President has done the most significant aspect of it and it is now imperative for us in the OPS to be comprehensively integrated into the agenda.

 

“The OPS which I am a critical player is willing and ready to work with the government in the process of implementing the remaining respects of the Agreement. What is important is for us to work assiduously towards boosting our local production and cutting down our net import.

 

“We also must speed up the implementation of the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) policy of the federal government, in this regards, the OPS should be allowed to work with government to monitor the program, and ensure that we fix our infrastructure in terms of power, transportation system and capacity of the civil servants to deliver on their mandates. This is the only way we will remain competitive.

 

“At the ACCI, NACCIMA, and the Pan African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) where I am the Vice President, we will give Nigeria all the technical support it requires to have a seamless implementation”, Prince Kayode emphasised.