• Advocates unified coastal highway, AU visa to boost trade
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has renewed his call for greater unity and self-reliance across Africa.
 
He also urged African leaders to pursue integration by embracing unity in diversity, stressing that the continent must take charge of its own development rather than rely on external powers.
 
Speaking yesterday at the ongoing fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algiers, Algeria, sponsored by Afreximbank, Obasanjo stated that sustainable growth and progress would only be achieved with united African nations, with a shared vision and a unified purpose.
 
According to him, fostering mutual understanding and building a collective agenda for development is crucial to unlocking Africa’s full potential. 
 
He stated categorically that Africa must stop depending on foreign powers for its growth and instead take control of its own destiny through deeper regional integration, collaboration, and economic cooperation.
 
Obasanjo lamented the state of key infrastructural and bureaucratic systems across the continent, particularly the poor transport networks and cumbersome visa processes that continue to hinder intra-African trade and movement. 
 
He argued that unless the two areas were urgently addressed, business, trade, and investment within the continent would remain stifled.  
 
To this effect, Obasanjo proposed the creation of a unified coastal highway that connects key economic hubs across Africa, facilitating easier and faster movement of goods and people.
 
In the same vein, he advocated for the establishment of an African Union visa that would allow for seamless travel across the continent, similar to the Schengen model in Europe.
 
In addition to infrastructure and mobility, Obasanjo raised concerns over Africa’s continued reliance on the U.S. dollar for transactions within the continent. 
 
He warned that this practice undermined the value of local currencies and exposed African economies to external shocks. 
 
Obasanjo also called for a decisive shift toward regional currencies or alternative financial systems that strengthen Africa’s economic independence and promote intra-continental trade.
 
Reflecting on the broader vision for the continent, Obasanjo said the idea of a ‘Global Africa’ is not only possible but necessary. 
 
He cited historical milestones such as the defeat of apartheid in South Africa and the creation of platforms like the IATF as evidence that collective action can lead to meaningful change.

 These achievements, he noted, should inspire a renewed commitment to building an inclusive and prosperous continent.
 
He urged African nations to return to the values and aspirations of the continent’s founding leaders, those who fought for independence and envisioned a united, thriving Africa. 
 
Obasanjo further emphasised that to achieve meaningful progress, Africa must abandon negative practices and disunity, and instead embrace bold reforms and visionary leadership that prioritize the continent’s long-term development.