AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AGREEMENT: ISSUES AND PROSPECTS FOR ECONOMIC INTEGRATION IN THE REGION

Abstract

The increase in South-South Cooperation has the prospect of increasing knowledge transfer, enhancing policy coordination, and encouraging trading collaborations. The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is a step in the right direction towards enhancing South-South cooperation in Africa. This paper discusses the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, why it was created, the institutional frameworks, and its objective. This paper also considers certain issues that may arise with AfCFTA and the prospects to be derived from it. This paper also considers how Nigeria can position itself to be a winner in this Agreement and areas that Nigeria should be concerned about. This paper concludes with recommendations that would enable member states to create the right policies and provide the right infrastructures that will create more winners within the AfCFTA framework.