 |
| The President of MAN, Dr Frank Jacobs |
The Manufacturers
Association of Nigeria (MAN) on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to appoint
a new national chief negotiator in the ongoing African Continental Free Trade
Agreement (AfCFTA) with other African countries.
Association of Nigeria (MAN) on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to appoint
a new national chief negotiator in the ongoing African Continental Free Trade
Agreement (AfCFTA) with other African countries.
The President of MAN,
Dr Frank Jacobs, gave the advice at a news conference in Lagos, tagged: “MAN’s
position on AfCFTA”.
Dr Frank Jacobs, gave the advice at a news conference in Lagos, tagged: “MAN’s
position on AfCFTA”.
He said the negotiator
would be saddled with the responsibility of negotiating specifically for Nigeria.
would be saddled with the responsibility of negotiating specifically for Nigeria.
He said the call
became necessary because the current Chief Negotiator doubled as Chairman of
AU-AfCFTA Negotiation Committee.
became necessary because the current Chief Negotiator doubled as Chairman of
AU-AfCFTA Negotiation Committee.
“We are worried that
the Director General of Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) Chief
Negotiator’ doubles as Chairman of AU-AfCFTA Negotiation Committee and may
balance allegiance to both Nigeria and the AU-AfCFTA Negotiation Committee.
the Director General of Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) Chief
Negotiator’ doubles as Chairman of AU-AfCFTA Negotiation Committee and may
balance allegiance to both Nigeria and the AU-AfCFTA Negotiation Committee.
“AfCFTA is a good
project that will benefit Nigeria if properly negotiated; as it would expand
market access for export of Nigerian products and improve the competitiveness
of the manufacturing sector,” he said.
project that will benefit Nigeria if properly negotiated; as it would expand
market access for export of Nigerian products and improve the competitiveness
of the manufacturing sector,” he said.
Besides, he said there
was the need to study the impact of the agreement on the nation’s manufacturing
sector.
was the need to study the impact of the agreement on the nation’s manufacturing
sector.
According to him, the
study should be centered on a defensive national economic and industrial
priority, especially on the nation’s manufacturing sector.
study should be centered on a defensive national economic and industrial
priority, especially on the nation’s manufacturing sector.
The News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) reports that AfCFTA is a trade agreement between 44 African Union
member states, with the goal of creating a single market for goods and
services.
Nigeria (NAN) reports that AfCFTA is a trade agreement between 44 African Union
member states, with the goal of creating a single market for goods and
services.
It also includes free
movement of persons and a single currency union. The AfCFTA was signed in
Kigali, Rwanda on March 21.
movement of persons and a single currency union. The AfCFTA was signed in
Kigali, Rwanda on March 21.
A draft of the
agreement is expected to be submitted at the January 2020 AU Assembly.
agreement is expected to be submitted at the January 2020 AU Assembly.
The AfCFTA agreement
is expected to increase intra African trade by 52 per cent by 2022 and bring a
total of 55 states together in a free trade area across the continent.
is expected to increase intra African trade by 52 per cent by 2022 and bring a
total of 55 states together in a free trade area across the continent.
Jacob said the
government should ensure it carries out an assessment of each stage of the
protocol at the regional, national and continental levels.
government should ensure it carries out an assessment of each stage of the
protocol at the regional, national and continental levels.
“The nation has too
much to lose should an agreement still shrouded in uncertainty, not informed by
any study and not based on negotiated position at the domestic level be taken
up.
much to lose should an agreement still shrouded in uncertainty, not informed by
any study and not based on negotiated position at the domestic level be taken
up.
“Right from the Kigali
Summit and up until now, the content of the Nigerian offer has remained unknown
to manufacturers who are the number one stakeholders to be positively and or
negatively impacted by the proposition.
Summit and up until now, the content of the Nigerian offer has remained unknown
to manufacturers who are the number one stakeholders to be positively and or
negatively impacted by the proposition.
“We also observed that
key economic ministry departments and established structures remained largely
sidelined during the process.
key economic ministry departments and established structures remained largely
sidelined during the process.
“Nigeria cannot afford
to agree to such a short period for the implementation of the Market Access
without negotiating the Rules of Origin.
to agree to such a short period for the implementation of the Market Access
without negotiating the Rules of Origin.
“The assessment will
ensure that the emergent AfCFTA properly aligns with Africa’s structural
economic transformation,” he said.
ensure that the emergent AfCFTA properly aligns with Africa’s structural
economic transformation,” he said.
Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadri,
Director General, MAN, added that should the government fail to put proper
measures in place, policies of the government (monetary and fiscal policies)
might be rendered ineffective.
Director General, MAN, added that should the government fail to put proper
measures in place, policies of the government (monetary and fiscal policies)
might be rendered ineffective.
