Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigeria should not bring its problems to the African Union (AU) as the country continues to refuse its signature to the African Free Continental Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement.
Obasanjo said this on Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the opening session of stakeholders’ dialogue on continental trade and strengthening the implementation of AfCFTA.
Nigeria, Benin and Eritrea are yet to sign the AfCFTA agreement, but the agreement has hit the required number of 22 countries needed for its implementation.
“It is nobody’s fault if your country cannot resolve its domestic problem. If you (Nigeria) is not signing the agreement, it is unfortunate. AfCFTA will go on without Nigeria,” Obasanjo said.
“You will recall that this is the first time, since 1976, that Nigeria is not at the table of a major continental process. Nigeria should settle its problem at home and not bring it to the AU.”
Proponents of AfCFTA say it would create a single market followed by free movement and a single currency for all 49 AU member states.
The Federal Government had backed out of the deal, saying that more domestic consultation was needed before Nigeria could sign the agreement.
Obasanjo said the conversation would be extended to other stakeholders, including Africa’s central banks, customs and security agencies.
He said the removal of trade barriers does not mean removal of other statutory agencies at various national border posts.
The former president commended the issuance of visas at the point of entry by some African countries.
