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AfCFTA: Nigeria turns in instruments of ratification
By John Eche
Nigeria on Saturday became the 34th African state party to turn in its instruments of ratification for the landmark African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCFTA, The Difference can confirm.
The exercise which took place at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia saw a delegation from Africa’s largest economy formally depositing the instruments of ratification at the Secretariat.
The delegation included the Nigerian Permanent Representative to the African Union and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Sector Matters, and Secretary of the National Action Committee on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, Mr. Francis Anatogu.
The AU had earlier set December 5th as deadline for state parties that had previously signed up to the treaty to turn in their ratification instruments.
The African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA has a functional secretariat in Accra, Ghana and 54 of the continent’s 55 states had previously signed up for it.
To continue to firm up plans ahead of the January I take-off date for the commencement of trading on the AfCFTA platform, African Heads of States held one more virtual summit at the weekend.
Addressing the leaders from his perch in Johannesburg, South Africa, AU Chairman, President Cyril Ramaphosa called on all African leaders to rally round in support of the scheme in order that its success would be guaranteed.
Mr Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General, AfCFTA
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