Nigeria Wants Africa To Make Trade The Engine Of Diplomacy

Nigeria Wants Africa To Make Trade The Engine Of Diplomacy

Nigeria has called for a stronger link between diplomacy and trade across Africa, saying economic interests must underpin efforts to deepen Pan-African cooperation.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call at the inaugural Africa-Alamein Business Forum in New Alamein, Egypt, on Friday.

Speaking at a ministerial roundtable on trade and economic cooperation, Enikanolaiye said African countries had for too long treated diplomacy and trade as separate issues.

He highlighted Nigeria’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms and fiscal measures, saying the changes contributed to 4.43 per cent economic growth in the second quarter of 2026.

The Minister also pointed to Nigeria’s implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), including its tariff concessions, services commitments and ratification of the Digital Trade Protocol.

He said a new air cargo corridor involving Uganda Airlines and the UNDP had reduced freight costs by between 50 and 75 per cent.

Enikanolaiye proposed five priorities for African governments: making trade facilitation a permanent diplomatic agenda, removing non-tariff barriers, expanding trade finance for small businesses, women and young people, investing in regional infrastructure and value chains, and adopting common positions in external trade negotiations.

On Nigeria-Egypt relations, he said bilateral trade, valued at $223 million in 2025, remained below its potential.

He therefore called for the implementation of agreements reached at the July 2025 Nigeria-Egypt Business Forum and the proposed Joint Investment Council.

The Africa-Alamein Business Forum, organised by Egypt, Afreximbank and AUDA-NEPAD, runs until 4 October and is designed as a permanent biennial platform for turning African integration goals into investment opportunities.