24-Hour AfCFTA Certificate Reform Set to Accelerate Nigeria’s Non-Oil Exports

ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria has introduced a 24-hour processing window for export certificates issued under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), significantly reducing the time exporters need to obtain the documentation required to access preferential trade across Africa.

The reform is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness within the continent’s single market by removing one of the administrative bottlenecks that has slowed cross-border commerce. Trade officials say the faster turnaround will particularly benefit manufacturers, agro-processors and small businesses seeking to expand exports into other African countries under AfCFTA’s preferential tariff regime.

Under the AfCFTA framework, exporters require a Certificate of Origin to prove that goods qualify for preferential treatment within participating African countries. By reducing the processing period to a single day, authorities say Nigerian businesses will be able to meet delivery schedules more efficiently while lowering the costs associated with delayed documentation.

The announcement comes as trade between Nigeria and other African economies continues to expand. Government officials have pointed to increasing demand for Nigerian products across West, East and Southern Africa, with manufactured goods, agricultural products and processed food emerging as key drivers of intra-African exports. The latest reform forms part of broader efforts to diversify the economy away from crude oil and strengthen regional value chains.

AfCFTA, which officially commenced trading in 2021, is the world’s largest free trade area by the number of participating countries, bringing together 54 African nations into a market of more than 1.4 billion people. The agreement seeks to eliminate tariffs on most goods, reduce non-tariff barriers and encourage industrialization by making it easier for African businesses to trade across borders.

Trade experts have long argued that documentation delays, customs procedures and logistics remain among the biggest obstacles to unlocking the agreement’s full potential. Faster certification is therefore seen as an important step toward improving the ease of doing business for exporters, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises that often lack the resources to absorb lengthy administrative delays.

For Nigeria, the policy also aligns with its ambition to become a manufacturing and export hub within Africa. As domestic industries increasingly target continental markets, quicker access to AfCFTA certificates could improve delivery times, enhance competitiveness and encourage more businesses to participate in regional trade rather than relying solely on overseas markets.

The success of the reform, however, will ultimately depend on consistent implementation. While reducing certificate processing to 24 hours is a significant administrative milestone, exporters will still look for complementary improvements in customs clearance, transport infrastructure and border efficiency if Nigeria is to fully capitalize on the opportunities offered by Africa’s single market.