Nigeria’s joining the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) still continues to be a question mark, if vibes emanating from the oil rich country are any proof. While receiving delegates from National Council of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in his office in Abuja, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said Nigeria would be guided by national interest in taking any decision on the agreement on establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Shortly, the government will receive a report from a committee set up to gauge the potential costs and benefits, if Nigeria signs the AfCFTA agreement. The committee was set up in October 2018 and was mandated to hold parleys with different industry segments to assess the merits and demerits for joining the free trade zone. It also had discussion with MAN. The Committee was asked to give its report in 12 weeks time, which was elapsed. The president informed that AfCATA will be discussed at the upcoming AU summit to be held in July in Niamey, Niger Republic. Importantly, MAN has flagged several concerns about Nigeria joining the grouping and the President has assured MAN representatives to look into each issue objectively before taking a decision about the country joining the groupings. This is indicative of the differences that prevail in Nigeria, the largest economy in the region developing cold feet about joining the grouping, which has come inot being on 30th May 2019 with th ratification of Ghana.
