NiKCCIMA and AfCFTA office pledge collaboration to enhance Nigeria–Kenya trade, support export-ready SMEs, and address cross-continental trade barriers.
By Joy Onu, Abuja
The Global President of the Nigeria–Kenya Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NiKCCIMA), Arc. Bob M. Achanya, PhD, has reaffirmed the chamber’s commitment to strengthening intra-African trade through structured collaboration between Nigeria and Kenya under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
On Tuesday, February 18, 2026, Arc. Achanya led a delegation from NiKCCIMA on a courtesy visit to the Acting Coordinator of the AfCFTA Coordinating Office in Nigeria, Bar. Mrs. Patience Okala. The meeting focused on enhancing intra-African trade amid rising global tariff tensions and positioning Africa to fully leverage AfCFTA opportunities.
In her remarks, Mrs. Okala welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to AfCFTA. She highlighted recent milestones, including Nigeria’s provisional tariff concessions, submission of trade in services commitments, and the country’s role as co-champion of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol. She also stressed the importance of engaging directly with export-ready businesses and the crucial role chambers play in linking products to regional markets.
Arc. Achanya stressed that Nigeria and Kenya, as economic anchors of West and East Africa respectively, must work structurally to create a seamless West–East trade corridor. He described NiKCCIMA’s East–West Trade Corridor initiative as a transaction-focused platform designed to drive tangible trade outcomes.
“Our East–West Trade Corridor is built to ensure deals are structured, SMEs are mobilized, and non-tariff barriers are addressed,” he said, outlining a three-tier governance model: a Global Secretariat for oversight and compliance, Nigeria and Kenya Chapters for execution and policy engagement, and Sector Platforms where trade deals are implemented.
Arc. Achanya also acknowledged challenges facing cross-continental trade, including rules of origin interpretation, standards harmonization gaps, certification inconsistencies, customs documentation friction, and logistics inefficiencies. Despite these obstacles, he affirmed that NiKCCIMA is committed to supporting traders, preparing 10–15 export-ready SMEs for corridor entry, documenting NTB cases, and hosting quarterly business roundtables focused on corridor trade.
The delegation requested technical guidance from the AfCFTA office to ensure compliance with rules of origin and smooth market access for Nigerian businesses seeking opportunities in Kenya.
Mrs. Okala further highlighted ongoing stakeholder sensitization efforts led by the Minister of Trade and Investment, including the P3 Summit and planned subnational engagements aimed at connecting public sector officials with exporters to resolve implementation challenges in real time.
The meeting concluded on a note of mutual commitment, with both parties pledging to strengthen collaboration and create actionable strategies to enhance intra-African trade under the AfCFTA framework. Arc. Achanya called for action-oriented collaboration. “Let this visit mark the beginning of delivery — not another meeting. If Nigeria–Kenya works, West–East Africa works; if West–East works, AfCFTA credibility strengthens,” he said.
The engagement underscores NiKCCIMA’s commitment to transforming AfCFTA frameworks into practical, measurable outcomes and positioning Nigeria and Kenya as key drivers of intra-African trade.
