The Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit in London, posited that in Africa’s population and regional collaboration in trade lays strength for development, not aid.
In his closing remark at the summit, the State Governor stated that Africa’s economic renaissance lies in extensive trade, not aid or charity.
Mbah further charged African continents to exploit the power of intra-Africa trade and opportunities inherent in the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA reiterating that in this, she can build her table rather than wait to be invited to the table by developed countries.
“Large population, plus Africa’s combined GDP of $3.4 trillion and the fact that the continent has 65 percent of the world’s uncultivated arable land means Africa should be building the table – and not waiting to be invited to the table.”
However, Recognizing the continent’s challenges, Mbah proposed, “One of the solutions lies in fully exploiting the power of trade, particularly intra-Africa trade; this was what AfCFTA came to fill.”
“The World Bank estimates that AfCFTA could lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty, raise incomes for 68 million people, and boost Africa’s income by $450 billion by 2035; that is about 10 years from now,” he said.
“The dream of a continent-wide common market remains as yet elusive. Despite our frameworks, deep-rooted structural barriers still exist: Only 14.4 percent of Africa’s trade is intra-African, compared to 69 percent in Europe and 59 percent in Asia.”
“Just seven percent of Africa’s trade moves by air, yet we still face the highest intra-continental flight costs in the world. Over 70 percent of goods are transported by road — but poor road infrastructure and border bottlenecks cost us over $4 billion annually in lost trade.”
“Maritime transport is underutilized. Only one in ten African countries has a major port efficiently connected to inland markets. Rail systems – our most cost-effective bulk trade option — remain disconnected or outdated across most continents. These statistics are dismal, especially given that it is nearly a decade since the signing of the AfCFTA,” Governor Mbah stated.
Despite the challenges enumerated, the Enugu State Governor expressed hope for a brighter tomorrow if positive actions are taken;
“It is not all doom and gloom; it took the European Union over 35 years to launch its Single Market; Africa should learn from the EU by taking action, prioritizing regulatory frameworks, human capital, and infrastructure, among others.”
“The EU did not just talk integration. They backed it with laws, infrastructure, and political commitment. Africa can learn from this. We cannot talk about building a common market when we are not yet connected — physically or digitally.”
“So, the question is not what is wrong, but what must be done; we need more than political will. We need a unified legal and regulatory framework that harmonizes trade rules, streamlines procedures, and builds confidence for businesses across borders.”
Mbah further advocated investment in critical sectors; “transport corridors, smart ports, cross-border rail, digital payments, efficient customs, and unified standards.”
“Also, no nation ever rises above the sheer capacity of its human capital. It will necessarily entail fixing our education system; this is a development imperative,” he said.
In conclusion, the Governor said, “AfCFTA is not a feel-good creation. Let us not allow regionalism to become a barrier to pan-African growth. Let us unite our markets, ports, rails, and ambitions. Africa’s economic renaissance lies in extensive trade – not aid or charity. Let us turn potential into performance. The time is now.”
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