The Nigeria Customs Service has launched a training programme to boost stakeholders' understanding of Rules of Origin under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. Spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada disclosed this in a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja. The capacity-building session, which began Tuesday, aims to improve Nigeria's competitiveness in intra-African trade. Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi declared the workshop open, calling it essential for trade facilitation and enforcement. He stressed that accurate interpretation of Rules of Origin supports trade preference, transparency and market competitiveness. The training will equip participants with technical expertise for effective implementation across the country. AfCFTA's national coordinator, Olusegun Olutayo, termed the initiative a turning point for Nigeria's full adoption of the agreement. He urged broader awareness campaigns and practical knowledge transfer to local businesses.
Bashir Adeniyi is treating Rules of Origin as technical detail when it's actually a gatekeeper to Nigeria's market access across Africa. If only top officials and customs officers understand these rules, most Nigerian businesses will remain locked out of AfCFTA benefits. A single workshop changes nothing unless thousands of traders in Onitsha, Kano and Aba receive the same clarity. Without mass outreach, this training serves bureaucracy more than business.
