The Federal Government is considering a nationwide scheme to identify and develop at least one exportable product in each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas by 2026, in a move aimed at boosting non-oil exports and strengthening the country’s competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to a post on X by Dada Olusegun Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Social Media, the idea is simple but ambitious: every local government must have something it can produce and sell to Africa. This plan was revealed by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, during the release of Nigeria’s AfCFTA Achievements Report for 2025, which also laid out the country’s trade priorities for 2026.
According to the Minister, the FG will work with state governments and local authorities to identify products with real export potential, whether in agriculture, manufacturing, processing, or other value-adding sectors and help position them for the African market.
The initiative goes beyond just naming products. It includes stronger coordination across government, better trade data, clearer guidelines for businesses, and nationwide sensitisation to help Nigerians fully understand and take advantage of AfCFTA opportunities.
This move builds on Nigeria’s progress so far under AfCFTA, including becoming the first African country to publish a five-year implementation review, a major milestone in continental trade integration. If done right, the plan could be a game changer, driving non-oil exports, boosting local economies, creating jobs, and ensuring that no part of the country is left out of Africa’s biggest free trade market. In short, the FG wants to make AfCFTA local, practical, and profitable from the grassroots to the continent.
