President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has highlighted the urgent need for deeper African integration to unlock the continent’s industrial and trade potential. Speaking at the launch of the Customs Pact – Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT), he warned that fragmented markets and inefficient borders limit competitiveness, prevent industrial scale, and leave economies vulnerable to global shocks.

Tinubu noted that Nigeria’s reforms—including modernized ports, unified foreign exchange policies, digital customs clearance, and trade harmonization—aim to remove structural barriers and facilitate cross-border commerce. Non-oil exports to African markets rose 38% in 2024, while cargo clearance times have dropped by 30% since 2023, reflecting tangible progress.

He also announced the National Single Window, set for March 2026, which will automate inter-agency coordination, reduce clearance time from 21 days to under a week, and strengthen Nigeria’s leadership in customs digitalization.

Calling for regional cooperation, Tinubu urged African governments to dismantle trade barriers and adopt global best practices. Support from the World Customs Organisation (WCO), Afreximbank, and the AfCFTA Secretariat was highlighted as vital to achieving the goals of intra-continental trade and industrial growth.

The conference brought together customs chiefs, policymakers, and trade experts from across Africa to emphasize that harmonized systems and disciplined execution are key to realizing Africa’s economic potential.