By Precious Mark
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has tasked African policymakers, innovators, and private sector leaders to shift the continent’s digital trade agenda from mere policy aspirations to actionable execution.
The President stated this on Wednesday as he welcomed delegates to Lagos for the 2026 African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Forum, which is themed “Digital Trade for a Connected African Market.”
President Tinubu noted that the forum marks a defining moment for the continent, emphasizing that Africa must now transition from signing agreements to creating tangible prosperity for its citizens.
“Africa must now move from aspiration to execution, and from agreements on paper to prosperity in the lives of our people,” the President said.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s active role as an AfCFTA Digital Trade Champion, noting that the government is matching its commitment with systemic reforms.
He specifically cited the National Single Window (NSW), which he described as a crucial tool for building a faster, more transparent trading system designed to reduce costs and compliance burdens for manufacturers and small businesses.
The President also pointed to the introduction of “B’Odogwu” by the Nigeria Customs Service as a key modernization effort aimed at strengthening revenue assurance and reducing friction at border points.
The President also emphasized the administration’s broader digital public infrastructure agenda, which includes improving digital identity, interoperable payments, and data governance.
He revealed that Nigeria, alongside Kenya and Morocco, is currently piloting the AfCFTA’s ADAPT framework, a move he described as a transition from policy to practice in connecting national trade systems.
“The AfCFTA gives Africa the market. Digital trade gives that market speed, scale, and reach,” the President stated.
He reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to continue collaborating with other African nations to foster a continent that trades more effectively with itself and competes with confidence in the global marketplace.