By: Joy Enamuna

Three months after the first shipment from Nigeria to Kenya was celebrated, specifically to the port of Mombasa, under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Nigerian Customs Service is still awaiting the arrival of further shipments from shippers.

In light of this, Dr. Segun Musa, the Vice President of Air Logistics at the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), has raised serious concerns about the AfCFTA coordination body’s effectiveness.

In a recent analysis, Dr. Musa criticized the body for underutilizing the significant benefits of AfCFTA. He expressed his frustration with the committee tasked with facilitating Nigeria’s participation in the free trade agreement, arguing that they have made minimal progress beyond theoretical discussions and paper presentations.

Speaking in an interview, Musa described the committee’s approach as overly abstract and ineffective, citing their tendency to prioritize “talk shows” over practical solutions.

“They’re not doing anything. Most of their engagements have turned into talk shows where speeches are delivered. We’re no longer in an era of just delivering papers; we need dialogue, practical strategies, and action plans,” he said.

Musa further revealed that the AfCFTA committee failed to attend a critical meeting, emphasizing that their absence highlighted their lack of commitment to the process. “During our last meeting, the body responsible for AfCFTA facilitation did not show up. This demonstrates their unseriousness,” he stated.

To move forward, Musa suggested that if the government is truly invested in improving the economy, it must ensure that the committees focus on tangible outcomes rather than endless discussions. He also expressed disappointment with the virtual meetings organized by the committee, which he claimed lacked depth and actionable resolutions.

“I’ve participated in their discussions, and everything revolves around theory. There’s no practical engagement, and this has hindered progress. To date, I’ve seen no real effort from them,” he added.

Musa stressed the importance of practical engagement and urged the AfCFTA coordination body to involve relevant stakeholders in meaningful discussions aimed at achieving concrete results. “If they are serious, they should engage those of us ready for practical dialogue and focus on building Nigeria’s capacity to participate in continental trade. Their avoidance of public discussions only confirms their lack of direction,” he said.

He also pointed out that Nigeria’s failure to adequately prepare for AfCFTA represents a missed opportunity. He called on the government to take the agreement seriously by addressing key challenges such as local production capacity, standardization, and export readiness.

“AfCFTA is a huge opportunity, but without a solid plan and active stakeholder involvement, Nigeria will continue to fall behind,” Musa concluded.

As one of the major initiatives aimed at fostering intra-African trade and economic integration, AfCFTA requires strong national coordination for effective implementation. However, Musa’s comments suggest that Nigeria’s current coordination framework may be inadequate, raising concerns about the country’s ability to compete in the continental market.