Nigeria’s new Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, has said that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) will be utilised optimally to benefit Nigeria.

Speaking shortly after taking the oath of office administered by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday, the minister emphasised the need to reverse Nigeria’s trade policies to create competitive jobs for the Nigerian youth.

“The time has come for Nigeria to reverse her trade policies to create competitive jobs for our teeming youth,” she stated.

“Expectations are high for change, and as a human collaborator, I will ensure that such expectations are met in this sector.

“What gets measured is what gets done. We will systematically ensure periodic performance appraisals to ensure that targets are met. We will also ensure that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement would be utilised optimally to benefit Nigeria,” the statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry Adebayo Thomas, quoted the minister as saying.

The AfCFTA is a free trade area that has 43 parties and another 11 signatories, making it the largest free-trade area by number of member states, after the World Trade Organisation, and the largest in population and geographic size.

Meanwhile, the minister has said that ongoing reforms by the government will reduce trade barriers, attract foreign investment, and promote export initiatives such as the Export Development Fund and Trade Facilitation Programme.

Represented at the opening ceremony of the Lagos international Trade Fair, by the Chief Executive Officer of the Teslim Balogun Stadium Management Board, Lucia Shittu, Oduwole, the minister said: “The present administration and the Ministry are dedicated to creating an enabling environment that supports businesses.”

She urged exhibitors to seize opportunities at the fair to connect and expand.

GIK/APA