The Federal Government is seeking to expand Nigeria’s access to the West African market by encouraging more local businesses to participate in the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call at a sensitisation workshop on the scheme for the North Central region, held in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme provides duty-free and quota-free access to regional markets for approved products originating from member states.
At the workshop, the minister identified low awareness and limited business participation as challenges to maximising Nigeria’s benefits under the arrangement.
He disclosed that about 3,500 Nigerian companies and 20,000 products have been registered under the scheme, urging more businesses to take advantage of the opportunities it offers.
Enikanolaiye also called on entrepreneurs to move beyond the export of raw materials by investing in value addition, particularly in agriculture and solid minerals.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the engagement was designed to familiarise businesses with the registration, certification and regulatory processes required to access the ECOWAS market.
The Kogi State Government, represented by the deputy governor, highlighted the state’s strategic position at the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers, describing its location and natural resource base as opportunities for investment in agro-processing, manufacturing and regional trade.
The workshop attracted government officials, manufacturers, exporters and other business stakeholders from across the North Central region, with a focus on improving awareness and strengthening Nigeria’s participation in regional trade.
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Editor: Ada Ononye
