By Gabriel Ameh
The Federal Government has challenged Nigerian manufacturers and entrepreneurs to look beyond the domestic market and take advantage of the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) market as part of efforts to build a $1 trillion economy.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, gave the charge in Bauchi during a sensitisation workshop on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).
Enikanolaiye urged businesses, particularly manufacturers and entrepreneurs in the North-East, to increase their production capacity and position themselves to benefit from opportunities created by regional trade integration.
According to the minister, the ETLS provides qualifying Nigerian products with access to markets across ECOWAS without customs duties, creating an opportunity for local businesses to expand their customer base beyond Nigeria.
He described the scheme as an important instrument for strengthening regional economic integration, increasing intra-African trade and supporting economic growth across West Africa.
“The scheme is designed to enhance economic cooperation and trade integration among ECOWAS member states and accelerate regional economic growth,” Enikanolaiye said.
He said greater utilisation of the ETLS could help Nigeria increase exports while stimulating job creation, wealth generation and industrial development.
The minister also highlighted the agricultural potential of Bauchi and other states in the North-East, urging increased investment in the processing of agricultural produce and raw materials before they are exported to regional markets.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to move beyond the export of raw commodities to processed and value-added products, saying this would improve the country’s competitiveness, strengthen local value chains and generate greater economic returns.
Enikanolaiye added that the Federal Government was working to ensure that Nigeria’s foreign policy delivered practical economic benefits to citizens, including businesses operating at the grassroots.
“The ministry prioritises the wellbeing of Nigerians by involving people at the grassroots in its programmes and foreign policy formulation,” he said.
The government’s renewed push for regional exports comes amid rising intra-African trade. Data from the African Export-Import Bank showed that intra-African trade increased by 5.47 per cent, from $202.7 billion in 2024 to $213.8 billion in 2025.
The growth highlights the expanding opportunities within the African market as countries seek to strengthen regional supply chains and reduce dependence on markets outside the continent.
For Nigerian manufacturers, the ETLS offers an opportunity to scale beyond the country’s borders and access consumers across West Africa.
However, businesses seeking to take advantage of the scheme will need to improve production capacity, comply with regional standards, maintain product quality and invest more in processing and value addition.
The Federal Government is therefore seeking to transform regional economic integration from a policy objective into a practical export opportunity for Nigerian manufacturers, agricultural processors and other businesses, particularly those in the North-East.
