Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms and the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are expected to strengthen investor confidence, boost industrialisation and position the country as a resilient investment destination, government and business leaders have said.

The consensus emerged at the sixth Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) Luncheon organised by the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) in partnership with Forvis Mazars in Nigeria, where stakeholders examined the theme: “Trade Policy, AfCFTA and the C-Suite’s Growth Agenda.”

In his presentation on “Building Resilient Economies in an Era of Geopolitical Contestation: How Nigeria and Africa Can Transform Global Volatility into Sustainable Growth,” the Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, John Uwajumogu, said Nigeria must move beyond managing economic uncertainty to building a business environment capable of attracting long-term investment.

Speaking at a panel session, Tax Partner, Forvis Mazars, Peter Iwofia, said AfCFTA should not be viewed merely as a tax harmonisation initiative but as a framework that requires businesses to rethink their regional operating models.

THIS is as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) deepens its partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to strengthen trade facilitation, enhance customs cooperation, and advance intra-African trade by accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

In a statement signed yesterday by the National Public Relations Officer of NCS, Dr Abdullahi Maiwada, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Bashir Adeniyi, reaffirmed the commitment during a working visit by the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Dr George Elombi, to the NCS Headquarters in Abuja on July 3, 2026.

Welcoming the Afreximbank delegation, the Customs boss described the partnership as one built on a shared vision of unlocking Africa’s economic potential through stronger trade among African countries.

MEANWHILE, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has urged Nigerian entrepreneurs in the fashion, leather and creative industries to take advantage of the 1.4 billion-person market offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while calling for greater investment and improved access to finance to help businesses scale.

The call was made at the weekend during the Enterprise Spotlight on Fashion, Leather and Creative Industries, convened by the Lagos State Government and UNDP under the theme, “Crafting Prosperity: Connecting African Creativity to Markets, Capital and Growth.

Speaking at the event, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, said the AfCFTA presents a major opportunity for African businesses to expand beyond their domestic markets.