Nigeria has called for trade and economic cooperation to become a central pillar of Pan-African diplomacy, arguing that stronger commercial connections between African countries are necessary to build a more integrated, prosperous and economically resilient continent.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call during a ministerial roundtable on “Trade and Economic Cooperation at the Centre of Pan-African Diplomacy” held in Alamein, Egypt.
The Nigerian government said the discussion reflected the need for African countries to move beyond political commitments and place greater emphasis on practical measures capable of expanding trade, investment, production and economic opportunities across the continent.
Enikanolaiye said Nigeria considers Africa the centrepiece of its foreign policy and believes that a larger, better-connected African market could create opportunities for manufacturers, farmers, innovators, service providers, entrepreneurs and other economic actors.
The minister argued that diplomatic engagement should increasingly support economic integration by helping remove barriers that prevent African businesses from trading efficiently across national borders.
For many African businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, the challenge of entering another African market can involve more than tariffs.
Border procedures, transport costs, regulatory differences, limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure and restrictions affecting the movement of people and goods can all influence whether a company can successfully trade across borders.
The Nigerian government therefore called for stronger cooperation aimed at reducing those barriers.
Enikanolaiye highlighted Nigeria's implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and pointed to the country's National Implementation Strategy, tariff concessions and ratification of the Digital Trade Protocol as part of efforts to integrate Nigeria more closely into the continental trading system.
The African Continental Free Trade Area was created to establish a single market for goods and services across participating African countries and to promote greater intra-African trade.
Its broader objective is to encourage African countries to trade more with one another rather than relying disproportionately on markets outside the continent.
For Nigeria, successful implementation of the agreement could provide opportunities for domestic manufacturers and other businesses to reach a much larger consumer market.
Nigeria has one of Africa's largest populations and economies, giving businesses operating in the country a potentially substantial domestic market.
However, access to a larger continental market would also expose Nigerian companies to competition from businesses in other African countries.
That competition could encourage companies to improve productivity, quality, pricing and innovation.
Enikanolaiye said a larger and more connected African market would benefit manufacturers, farmers, innovators and service providers.
For farmers, greater regional market access could create opportunities to sell agricultural products beyond national borders.
For manufacturers, it could create larger markets for processed goods.
Technology companies could potentially provide digital services across several countries, while professional-service providers could seek clients in different African markets.
The minister also called for greater use of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, known as PAPSS.
The system is designed to facilitate cross-border payments in African currencies and reduce the need for businesses to rely on third currencies for transactions between African countries.
The use of third currencies can add costs and complexity to trade.
Businesses may need to obtain foreign currency before paying suppliers in another African country, while fluctuations in exchange rates can create additional uncertainty.
A payment infrastructure capable of settling eligible transactions directly through participating African currencies could potentially reduce some of those difficulties.
Enikanolaiye said wider use of PAPSS could particularly benefit small businesses, women traders and young entrepreneurs.
These groups can face greater difficulties accessing international banking services and foreign currency compared with larger corporations.
Simplifying payment arrangements could therefore help smaller businesses participate more actively in regional commerce.
However, payment systems alone cannot solve all the obstacles affecting intra-African trade.
Businesses still need reliable roads, ports, railways, warehouses, telecommunications and energy infrastructure.
The Nigerian minister identified inadequate logistics infrastructure as one of the major challenges limiting trade across the continent.
Transport costs can significantly influence the final price of African products.
Where it is expensive or slow to move goods between neighbouring countries, imported products from outside Africa may sometimes become more competitive despite the distance involved.
Improving regional transport corridors could reduce those costs and support the development of African supply chains.
Energy infrastructure is also important.
Manufacturers need dependable electricity to process raw materials and produce goods at competitive costs.
If energy costs are too high, businesses may struggle to compete with producers in countries where industrial power is more reliable or less expensive.
The minister therefore proposed greater investment in transport and energy corridors as part of a broader approach to continental economic integration.
He also called for simplified border procedures.
Border delays can impose costs on traders through longer delivery times, additional transport expenses and uncertainty over when goods will arrive.
For perishable agricultural products, delays can result in spoilage and financial losses.
For manufacturers operating just-in-time supply chains, unpredictable border procedures can disrupt production.
Simplifying customs procedures and improving coordination between border agencies could therefore help reduce those problems.
Enikanolaiye also identified restrictions affecting the movement of people as an obstacle to deeper economic integration.
Trade in services often depends on the ability of professionals to travel between countries.
Engineers, consultants, technicians, financial professionals and other specialists may need to move temporarily to provide services to customers in another country.
Where visa and immigration procedures are difficult, businesses can face additional costs and delays.
Greater economic integration therefore requires attention not only to the movement of goods but also to the movement of people involved in legitimate economic activity.
Another issue raised by the minister was limited value addition to African raw materials.
Many African countries export commodities in relatively unprocessed forms and import finished products made from those resources.
This structure can limit the amount of economic value retained within the continent.
For example, agricultural commodities can generate greater employment and industrial activity when they are processed locally before being exported.
Mineral resources can similarly create greater economic value when processing and manufacturing take place within Africa rather than only at the raw-material extraction stage.
Nigeria has repeatedly identified local processing and value addition as important elements of its economic diversification strategy.
The country has significant agricultural, mineral and energy resources, but converting those resources into higher-value products requires investment, technology, infrastructure and skilled labour.
The minister's call for stronger continental trade therefore connects closely with the broader objective of developing African production capacity.
A functioning continental market could encourage companies to establish production facilities based on access to regional demand.
Instead of producing only for a single national market, companies could design operations to supply several African countries.
That could create economies of scale and encourage investment in manufacturing.
However, this would require countries to establish predictable rules and reduce barriers that make cross-border trade difficult.
The Nigerian government proposed making trade facilitation a standing item in Pan-African diplomatic engagements.
Under such an approach, trade issues would become a regular component of political and diplomatic discussions rather than being treated primarily as technical matters for trade ministries.
Foreign ministries and diplomatic missions could play a stronger role in identifying commercial barriers and supporting businesses seeking opportunities in other African markets.
Diplomatic missions can also help governments understand the concerns of companies operating across borders.
They can facilitate communication between businesses and government agencies and support negotiations over commercial arrangements.
The minister's proposal therefore places economic diplomacy at the centre of Nigeria's approach to continental relations.
The government also called for stronger trade finance.
Access to finance is a major challenge for businesses seeking to expand across borders.
A company may identify a market for its products but lack the capital required to increase production, purchase equipment, transport goods or offer competitive payment terms to buyers.
Trade finance can help bridge some of those gaps by supporting transactions between buyers and sellers.
Expanding access to such financing could particularly benefit small and medium-sized businesses that may have difficulty obtaining conventional bank loans.
Women-owned businesses and young entrepreneurs can face additional financing barriers.
The use of continental payment systems combined with stronger trade finance could therefore support wider participation in African commerce.
Nigeria's position is that economic integration should produce practical benefits for ordinary businesses rather than remain primarily a government-level project.
The minister also highlighted Nigeria's recent economic reforms during the roundtable.
He said the Nigerian economy grew by 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026 while headline inflation eased to 15.39 per cent in August.
He referenced reforms involving the removal of fuel subsidies, the unification of the foreign exchange market and measures intended to strengthen public finances.
The reforms form part of the government's broader effort to restructure the Nigerian economy and improve its capacity for long-term growth.
Their inclusion in the diplomatic discussion reflects Nigeria's effort to present its domestic economic reforms as part of its wider engagement with the African economy.
Economic diplomacy is increasingly linked to domestic economic policy because countries seeking to increase trade and investment need to demonstrate that their markets can support commercial activity.
For Nigeria, the size of its population and market provides an important advantage, but investors and trading partners also consider infrastructure, currency stability, regulations, taxation and the overall ease of doing business.
The minister's emphasis on regional integration suggests that Nigeria wants its economic position to contribute to a broader continental market.
The relationship between Nigeria and Egypt was also discussed during the meeting.
Enikanolaiye said bilateral trade between Nigeria and Egypt reached approximately $223 million in 2025 but described the figure as below the potential of the two countries.
Both Nigeria and Egypt are major African economies with large populations and significant industrial, agricultural and commercial sectors.
Greater trade between them could provide opportunities in areas such as manufacturing, agriculture, energy, construction, technology and services.
The minister expressed Nigeria's readiness to work with Egypt on new initiatives involving investment, digital identity and digital transformation.
Digital cooperation is becoming increasingly relevant to economic diplomacy because businesses now depend on digital systems for payments, logistics, customer services, identity verification and cross-border transactions.
A stronger digital infrastructure can also make it easier for businesses to access customers beyond their immediate geographic markets.
The Digital Trade Protocol under the AfCFTA is intended to support this broader transformation by establishing continental rules for digital commerce.
Nigeria's ratification of the protocol was therefore presented as part of its efforts to participate actively in the emerging African digital economy.
For businesses, digital trade can reduce some of the costs associated with traditional commerce.
Online platforms can connect buyers and sellers across borders, while digital payments can speed up transactions.
However, digital commerce also requires reliable internet access, cybersecurity, data protection and appropriate regulatory frameworks.
African governments therefore face the challenge of developing rules that protect consumers and businesses while avoiding unnecessary barriers to digital trade.
The minister's call for trade-centred diplomacy includes these emerging aspects of economic integration.
The proposed measures are also connected to the wider goals of the AfCFTA.
A continental trade agreement can provide a legal framework for integration, but the practical experience of businesses will determine whether the agreement delivers its full potential.
If goods remain stuck at borders, transport remains expensive and payments remain difficult, formal tariff reductions may have limited impact.
This is why trade facilitation has become an important part of the continental conversation.
Simpler procedures can reduce the time and cost involved in moving products from one market to another.
Digital customs systems can potentially improve transparency and reduce paperwork.
Coordinated border agencies can also reduce duplication.
Transport corridors can connect production centres to major markets and ports.
Energy corridors can support industrial development.
Trade finance can provide businesses with the capital required to participate.
Payment systems can facilitate transactions.
Taken together, these measures can create a more functional continental market.
Nigeria also called for Africa to strengthen its collective position in negotiations involving external trade and investment.
African countries often negotiate individually with major external economies despite collectively representing a large consumer and resource market.
A stronger continental negotiating position could potentially improve Africa's ability to secure investment and market-access arrangements that support local development.
The objective would not necessarily be to reduce relationships with external partners.
Instead, it would be to ensure that African countries negotiate from a position that reflects the size and potential of their combined market.
This is particularly relevant as global competition for investment, minerals, agricultural commodities and new technologies increases.
Africa has resources and markets that are attractive to businesses around the world.
The challenge is ensuring that external investment contributes to sustainable development and does not simply reinforce the export of unprocessed commodities.
The minister's call for greater value addition therefore fits into a broader argument for changing the structure of African economies.
Countries need to move from primarily exporting raw materials toward developing industries capable of processing those materials and producing finished or semi-finished goods.
Such industries can create jobs and develop technical skills while increasing the value generated within African economies.
The development of regional supply chains can reinforce that process.
A product does not necessarily have to be produced entirely within one country.
Different stages of production can take place in different African countries depending on their resources, skills and industrial capacities.
One country could supply raw materials, another could process them, and another could manufacture components or finished products.
Such regional value chains would require efficient transportation and predictable trade rules.
They could also encourage countries to specialise in areas where they have competitive advantages.
For Nigeria, this approach could create opportunities for its large agricultural, energy, manufacturing and services sectors.
The minister's proposal for transport and energy corridors is particularly relevant to this model because supply chains depend on physical connectivity.
Africa's geographical size means that moving goods across long distances can be expensive.
Road, rail, maritime and air connections therefore have a major influence on the competitiveness of regional trade.
Investment in infrastructure can consequently produce economic benefits beyond the transport sector.
It can help businesses reach customers, reduce delivery times and support the development of new production centres.
The call for trade-centred diplomacy also comes as African countries continue to seek ways of increasing intra-African trade.
The continent has a large combined population and substantial natural resources, but many African economies remain heavily connected to markets outside the continent.
Increasing trade among African countries could help diversify markets and reduce vulnerability to external shocks.
It could also create opportunities for African companies to expand before competing in more distant global markets.
For smaller businesses, regional markets may provide a more accessible first stage of international expansion.
Nigeria's position is that diplomacy should help make that expansion easier.
The government wants diplomatic engagement to contribute directly to solving the practical obstacles faced by traders and investors.
That approach could give foreign ministries a greater economic role, particularly in supporting commercial diplomacy.
Embassies and diplomatic missions can identify market opportunities, assist companies with information and connect businesses with government agencies in host countries.
They can also help communicate policy changes and facilitate discussions when commercial disputes or regulatory problems arise.
Such activities can strengthen the connection between foreign policy and economic development.
The minister said African countries should translate shared commitments into practical actions.
That emphasis on implementation is important because the continent already has numerous agreements and institutions designed to promote integration.
The challenge has often been turning those agreements into measurable improvements for businesses and citizens.
The success of trade-centred Pan-African diplomacy will therefore depend on whether governments can reduce the practical costs of doing business across borders.
The outcome should be visible in faster movement of goods, greater investment, expanded manufacturing, stronger regional supply chains and increased trade among African countries.
The Alamein roundtable has provided Nigeria with an opportunity to articulate that position at a continental level.
The country is calling for diplomacy to become more closely connected to economic priorities and for trade facilitation to receive sustained political attention.
Nigeria's approach places the AfCFTA, PAPSS, trade finance, infrastructure development and value addition within a single broader vision of African economic integration.
The objective is to create a continent where African businesses can more easily sell products and services to African consumers.
Achieving that objective will require cooperation between governments, businesses, financial institutions, development agencies and regional organisations.
It will also require continued attention to infrastructure, regulation, skills and technology.
No single country can build a fully integrated continental market alone.
The success of the project depends on collective action and the willingness of countries to address barriers that restrict trade.
Nigeria's latest diplomatic position is therefore a call for a more economically focused form of Pan-African engagement.
Rather than measuring diplomatic cooperation only through political declarations, the government wants success to be assessed through practical economic outcomes.
That means more trade between African countries, stronger regional production, improved movement of goods and people, greater access to finance and more opportunities for businesses.
For Nigeria, such an approach would also support its broader economic ambitions by giving domestic producers access to a larger continental market.
For Africa as a whole, deeper economic integration could provide a foundation for stronger industrialisation and greater resilience in the global economy.
The immediate challenge will be implementation.
African governments will need to simplify procedures, invest in infrastructure, strengthen payment systems, expand trade finance and address non-tariff barriers.
Businesses will need to improve competitiveness, quality and production capacity.
Financial institutions will need to develop products suited to cross-border trade.
Diplomatic missions will need to support commercial engagement.
If those elements move together, the continent's trade agreements could produce more tangible benefits.
Nigeria's message from Alamein is that diplomacy should help make that process happen.
The government has placed trade and economic cooperation at the centre of its latest Pan-African diplomatic appeal, calling on African countries to transform existing commitments into practical measures capable of expanding commerce and creating opportunities across the continent.