The Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area has designated Nigeria as the pilot country for the rollout of its Simplified Trade Regime in West Africa.

The initiative aims to streamline cross-border trade procedures for small-scale traders, improve their access to regional markets, and promote deeper economic integration across the continent.

The Nigeria Customs Service spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, made the announcement on Wednesday, underscoring Nigeria’s pivotal role in boosting intra-African trade and supporting small-scale traders often constrained by cumbersome customs processes and high transaction costs.

A delegation from the AfCFTA Secretariat, led by Pedro Estevao, recently visited Nigeria to hold talks with the Nigeria Customs Service at its headquarters in Abuja, aimed at fast-tracking the implementation of the STR.

Estevao noted that Nigeria, as the region’s largest economy, is strategically positioned to champion inclusive trade and drive economic growth through the successful rollout of the STR framework.

Maiwada stated that during the meeting, the NCS unveiled its draft Standard Operating Procedure outlining the proposed implementation of the STR in Nigeria.

“The SOP outlined a number of key measures aimed at simplifying the customs processes for informal cross-border trade, passenger baggage handling, and low-value e-commerce transactions. The process will be supported by digital declaration systems and risk-based controls, ensuring efficiency and transparency,” he said.

Maiwada further identified key areas of alignment between the NCS’s SOP and the AfCFTA framework, including streamlined documentation and procedures, deployment of digital platforms for declarations and clearances, and the introduction of de minimis thresholds for low-value trade.

He explained that these measures are intended to ensure small-scale traders, particularly women and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises—can fully benefit from the initiative.

Both sides agreed that sustained technical collaboration will be essential to refine the implementation strategy, address operational bottlenecks, and harmonise national and continental frameworks for seamless execution.

Earlier this month, Nigeria reinforced its leadership role by signing the hosting agreement for the fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2027), scheduled to take place in Lagos.

The event is projected to draw more than 100,000 visitors, 2,500 exhibitors, and participants from over 100 countries, with a goal of generating upwards of $50 billion in trade and investment deals.

The meeting between the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat and the NCS marked a significant step in Nigeria’s emergence as the pilot country for the STR rollout.

The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s trade facilitation objectives while advancing regional economic integration through the simplification of cross-border trade processes for small-scale traders.