The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has urged Nigeria to take full advantage of China’s tariff-free policy for African goods by focusing on local processing and value addition to boost global competitiveness.
Emeka Obegolu, President of the ACCI, made this known while reacting to China’s decision to remove tariffs on goods from 53 African countries.
According to him, Nigeria must move beyond being a mere exporter of raw materials and instead prioritise value addition and local processing to make its products more competitive in global markets.
“Nigeria should use this opportunity to shift from overdependence on crude oil exports to agriculture, manufacturing and value-added exports. China’s zero-tariff policy offers Nigeria major opportunities to expand exports, boost industrialisation and diversify the economy,” he said.
Obegolu described the policy as a major boost for Nigeria’s export sector, saying it would strengthen industrialisation, deepen trade relations with China and promote balanced economic cooperation across Africa.
He urged Nigerian businesses to increase production of agro-processed and manufactured goods for the Chinese market, identifying cocoa, sesame, cashew, ginger, leather products, textiles and processed agricultural goods as key areas with strong export potential.
Obegolu said the ACCI would mobilise businesses, investors, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and other stakeholders to build export value chains that meet international standards.
He emphasised the need for investment in agro-processing, storage, logistics, quality control, packaging and infrastructure, while calling on the government to support policies that enhance ease of doing business, export financing and industrial development.
The ACCI President also urged stronger public-private sector collaboration and encouraged youth and women entrepreneurs to actively participate in international trade.
Obegolu reaffirmed the chamber’s commitment to supporting trade facilitation, enterprise development and sustainable economic growth.
China’s President, Xi Jinping, announced the zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries on February 14, 2026, during the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. The policy took effect on May 1, 2026.
