The Federal Ministry of Affairs has moved to deepen Nigerian businesses’ access to opportunities around the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) through the ECOWAS Trade and Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, while speaking at the sensitisation workshop organised in Bauchi for North East business associations, entrepreneurs and chambers of commerce and industry, said that the event was themed, “Increasing Intra-Regional Trade through ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).

Enikanolaiye said that the workshop was anchored on Nigeria’s 4D foreign policy framework, which places Nigerians at the centre of foreign policy.
“The government wants to take foreign policy closer to citizens, particularly businesses and entrepreneurs at the grassroots.

“The initiative will educate Nigerian businesses on opportunities within ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The workshop will be held across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, beginning with the North-East, before moving to North-Central, North-West, South-South, South-East, South-West and Abuja.”

According to him, emphasis is placed on industrial value addition, increased production and job creation for young Nigerians. He said further that Nigeria’s investment in ECOWAS should translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians.

On the economy, the Minister said the Tinubu administration’s reforms had produced greater economic stability and growth. He acknowledged that inflation remained high but said it was declining.
He also pointed to relative exchange-rate stability and rising foreign reserves, which he said were approaching $40 billion.

Also, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State pledged the state’s support to wealth creation and economic growth of the country by supporting the scheme to create sustainable jobs for youths and every Nigerian.

Represented by his Deputy Governor, Hon. Auwal Jatau, said that Bauchi is ready to key into ETLS for economic diversification and private-sector development. The governor said the government alone cannot create sustainable prosperity, hence the need for the private sector to be empowered to produce, invest, innovate and create jobs.

He commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for coming up with the sensitisation to strengthen conversation on greater economic cooperation among the North-East States, in addition to exploring practical ways of connecting producers, processors, traders, transport operators and business associations.

The President, Bauchi State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Agriculture (BASCIMA), Hon. Aminu Mohammed Danmaliki, expressed readiness to embrace the scheme.

According to him, businesses still experience border delays, numerous checkpoints, unofficial charges, conflicting customs interpretations and difficulties in obtaining or verifying documentation. “Many small and medium-sized enterprises do not even know that the scheme exists or how they can benefit from it.

“The ETLS process must therefore be simplified and fully digitalised. A unified electronic platform should allow companies to apply, track their applications and have their certificates verified by customs authorities across the region. Removing customs duties will achieve little if non-tariff barriers are allowed to replace them.

“ECOWAS should establish a rapid-response mechanism through which businesses can report the unlawful detention of approved goods and obtain relief within a definite period.
Adequate funding is equally important.

“I therefore recommend the establishment of a permanent North-East ETLS Help Desk, working through the chambers of commerce in the six states,” he said.