Nigeria’s AfCFTA Export Requirements – TGL Alert

Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement took effect on January 1, 2021. With an estimated population of 1.3 billion people across 55 countries and an estimated combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $2.5 trillion USD Africa will arguably become the largest free trade area in the world.

The organisation of Nigeria’s participation in the AfCFTA is primarily anchored its Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI). The FMITI on its own anchors its intervention on two inter-ministerial organisations that are subject to its oversight. They are the National Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) and the National Action Committee on the AfCFTA (NACA). While the NOTN has a general mandate to facilitate all trade negotiations for Nigeria including trade negotiations on the AfCFTA, the NACA exists as Nigeria’s secretariat on all things, AfCFTA.

On January 16, 2021, NOTN released the requirements for businesses in Nigeria (Nigeria Exporters) that intend to export goods to other AfCFTA Countries. We summarize these requirements as follows:

1. Product Qualification:  The goods must have either (i) been wholly extracted, obtained, or developed in Nigeria or any other AfCFTA country; or (ii) undergone substantial transformation or processing in Nigeria or any other AfCFTA country.
   
2. Licencing:  Nigeria Exporters must obtain relevant licenses, certificates and necessary authorisations from relevant Nigeria governmental agencies including, from the:
   a. Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture who will review and vet an application to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for the AfCFTA Certificate of Origin.
   b. NCS who will issue, the (i) AfCFTA Certificate of Origin; and (ii) Bill of Entry.
   c. Nigerian Export Promotion Council;
   d. Standard Organization of Nigeria;
   e. National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control;
   f. Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services;
   
3. Documentation:  Deriving from the licensing process, the following are the documentation required for AfCFTA exportation from Nigeria:
   a. AfCFTA Certificate of Origin
   b. Bill of Entry
   c. Bill of Lading/Air Waybill
   d. Commercial Invoice to Importer in AfCFTA country
   e. Packing List
   f. Certificate of Analysis
   g. Declaration Form (All goods bound for AfCFTA countries must be accompanied with the relevant licenses and documentations in (2) and (3) and exported through a shipping or airline company.

At TGL, we are able to assist you facilitate the process for both the documentation and the logistics required for your easy exportation to AfCFTA countries. For more information or assistance, please reach out to us at:

Email: business@tgl.ng

Phone Number: 0804 TGL DESK

WhatsApp: +234 – 804- 845 – 3375