The President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, PhD, has described China’s zero-tariff policy for African countries as a major economic opportunity that could transform Nigeria’s export sector, strengthen industrialisation, and deepen trade relations between Africa and China.
Reacting to the policy announced by the Government of China, Chief Obegolu commended the initiative as a bold and strategic step toward promoting balanced trade, economic cooperation, and inclusive growth between China and African nations. He noted that the policy presents Nigeria with a unique opportunity to reposition its economy from overdependence on crude oil exports to a more diversified, export-driven economy anchored on agriculture, manufacturing, and value addition.
According to the ACCI President, Nigeria must move quickly to take advantage of the policy by expanding the production and export of agro-processed and manufactured goods with strong demand in the Chinese market. He identified products such as cocoa, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, ginger, leather products, textiles, and processed agricultural commodities as key areas with high export potential.
Chief Obegolu stated that as the head of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs, the ACCI remains committed to mobilising businesses, investors, SMEs, and relevant stakeholders to build globally competitive export value chains that meet international standards.
He further stressed that the policy comes at a critical time when global trade dynamics are changing rapidly, making it imperative for Nigeria to diversify its export destinations and strengthen local production capacity. He noted that the removal of tariffs on African goods entering China would improve the competitiveness of Nigerian products and create opportunities for increased foreign exchange earnings, job creation, industrial growth, and SME development.
The ACCI President also emphasised the need for deliberate investments in agro-processing, storage facilities, logistics, quality control, packaging, and infrastructure to enable Nigerian businesses to maximise the opportunities provided by the zero-tariff arrangement fully. He urged governments at all levels to support policies that promote ease of doing business, export financing, and industrial development.
He further called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to develop export-oriented industries and encourage youth and women entrepreneurs to participate actively in international trade.
While welcoming the policy, he noted that Nigeria must avoid remaining merely an exporter of raw materials. Instead, he advocated for increased value addition and local processing to enhance the competitiveness and value of Nigerian products in global markets.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the ACCI to supporting initiatives that promote trade facilitation, enterprise development, industrial transformation, and sustainable economic growth, while encouraging Nigerian businesses to take advantage of the Chinese market of over 1.4 billion consumers.
Chinese President Xi Jinping officially announced China’s zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries on February 14, 2026, during the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with implementation taking effect from May 1, 2026.
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