NACCIMA, GIZ join forces to unlock cross-border trade opportunities

L–R: Assistant Controller of Customs, Osamwonyi Uzamere; President, Badagry Chamber, Yahyah Oladiran Idris; Project Leader/Coordinator, ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Project (EAT), Arne Schuffenhauer; President, NACCIMA, Engr. Jani Ibrahim; Director General, NACCIMA, Olushola Obadimu, at the launch of NACCIMA’s activities under the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade (EAT) Project, held in Lagos.

By Stanley Ihedigbo

With the goal of improving regional trade flows and tackling barriers limiting agricultural exports, the National Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has teamed up with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

At the launch of NACCIMA activities under the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme, themed “Strengthening ECOWAS Agricultural Markets to Drive Food Security and Regional Prosperity,” NACCIMA President Jani Ibrahim, noted that agriculture continues to play a critical role in Nigeria’s economy, adding that in Q4 2024, the sector contributed about 24.64% to GDP.

“With the recent GDP rebasing, the share of agriculture in national output has risen. Early 2025 estimates show agriculture’s share of GDP at around 27.8%,” he said.

Ibrahim, however, noted that despite its large role in the economy and its sustenance of livelihoods, Nigeria’s agricultural exports remain modest.

He disclosed that it is against this backdrop that the EAT Project and NACCIMA’s role take on special relevance.

He said the initiative aligns perfectly with the association’s mandate to empower the private sector, promote enabling policies, and strengthen export competitiveness.

Through this project, we intend to address longstanding bottlenecks that hinder trade through the capacity building of traders and SMEs within the agribusiness value chain, enabling them to meet requirements for regional markets.

“By unlocking the potential of regional agricultural trade, we are not just moving goods; we are unlocking livelihoods, creating value, deepening regional economic integration, and contributing to food security for millions across West Africa.

“The opportunities are enormous, with Nigeria’s burgeoning population and rising urban demand, ECOWAS’s vast markets, and the dynamism of our private sector.

“But we must also recognise the challenges: infrastructure gaps, limited access to finance, weak value-chain linkages, and non-tariff barriers. This is why a coordinated effort under the EAT Project, with NACCIMA as a central private-sector anchor, is so critical.”

The NACCIMA boss applauded GIZ and ECOWAS, its development partners, for entrusting the chamber with the responsibility.

He noted that the partnership promises stronger agricultural value chains, better market access, enhanced trade in food and agro-products, and a more vibrant role for the private sector in shaping regional trade in West Africa.

For the Director General of NACCIMA, Sola Obadimu, agriculture remains a major pillar of Nigeria’s economy, contributing about one-quarter of GDP and supporting millions of livelihoods.

Obadimu noted that despite the vast potential, the nation’s agricultural export earnings remain below expectations, even as the wider ECOWAS region—with a population of over 400 million people—continues to offer huge untapped market opportunities.

The DG pointed out that the EAT Project is therefore timely, as it strengthens the collective effort to boost intra-regional agricultural trade, improve standards, remove non-tariff barriers, and support SMEs to participate more competitively in regional value chains.

“For NACCIMA, this intervention aligns strongly with our mandate to promote trade, support private-sector competitiveness, and deepen regional integration.

Under this project, NACCIMA will lead a series of activities focused on capacity building and improving access to market information. Our aim is simple: to ensure that Nigerian agribusinesses are better positioned to take advantage of opportunities within the ECOWAS market and contribute meaningfully to national and regional growth.”

For Arne Schuffenhauer, Programme Lead, GIZ-EAT, the programme is funded by the German government and implemented in partnership with the ECOWAS Commission and other partners across five countries, including Nigeria.

Schuffenhauer said ECOWAS trade represents one of the biggest markets for food products in West Africa.

He noted that GIZ partnered with NACCIMA because the association provides services to members and non-members on how to better access markets, trade efficiently, and navigate inspections and customs procedures.

“So NACCIMA is a strategic partner for us, and the EAT Project is important to really accelerate trade in food products.

“The benefits include knowledge, access to information, access to markets, and opportunities to promote businesses—especially for small and medium enterprises, as well as youth and women.”

He explained that cross-border trade is often underestimated because the current narrative suggests it is too small and fragmented to attract investment.

The GIZ-EAT project lead stressed that cross-border food trade is a $10 billion business, underscoring its scale.

“So it means there are a lot of opportunities. There are still challenges for small and medium traders to invest, access finance, and cross borders without obstacles.

“We also support solutions such as small infrastructure, cold storage—including solar-powered cold rooms—and even simple interventions like transporting products across borders using tricycles.

“All these small business cases are important to show policymakers that solutions exist, and that they are profitable, job-creating, and income-enhancing.

“We just have to channel funds and credit into these areas so we can invest more in these businesses for the benefit of traders and consumers.”

Nancy Okpa, Principal Trade Promotion Officer at the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), noted that the launch marks a significant milestone in regional economic cooperation by creating a structured platform for producers, processors, exporters, policymakers, and development partners.

“This initiative advances a shared vision for an integrated West African market where agricultural value chains thrive,” she said.

Okpa added that through this collaboration, barriers to trade are reduced and opportunities for inclusive growth are expanded.

“As Nigeria continues to defend its core values, agriculture remains central to our national and economic strategy.”

She noted that the framework for agricultural trade facilitation aligns strongly with the council’s mandate to support exporters, improve competitiveness, and help Nigerian producers meet regional and global demands.

“We particularly commend NACCIMA and GIZ for their commitment to empowering agricultural businesses and strengthening the capacities of all stakeholders.

“This initiative comes at a crucial time when strategic partnerships are needed to unlock the immense potential of the West African agricultural sector.”