FG urges manufacturers to leverage ECOWAS Trade Scheme to expand exports

The Federal Government is urging manufacturers and businesses to take advantage of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) to boost exports and expand market reach across West Africa. During an ETLS sensitisation workshop in Bauchi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye emphasized that the scheme is a vital tool for strengthening economic cooperation and trade integration among ECOWAS member states.

Enikanolaiye highlighted that the ETLS provides businesses with access to a market spanning all 15 ECOWAS countries, enabling them to increase production, create jobs, and contribute to economic development. The minister stressed that the scheme aims to create a common economic union by eliminating customs duties on eligible products and promoting a harmonised customs framework across the sub-region.

He encouraged manufacturers and entrepreneurs in the North-East to leverage the programme to scale operations and drive sustainable economic growth, particularly by processing agricultural produce and raw materials to strengthen local value chains and support industrialisation. This renewed push for regional trade follows steady growth in intra-African trade in 2025, with South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire playing key roles in the continent's commerce.

Nigeria's foreign trade also showed strong momentum in the first quarter of 2026, with Asia and Europe being the primary trading regions for the country.