₦airaland Forum

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has charged Africa on robust regional collaboration and trade facilitation, insisting that Africa’s economic renaissance lies in extensive trade, not charity.

Mbah, who insisted that Africa had all that it takes to build its own table, rather than wait to be invited to the table, also tasked the continent on fully exploiting the power of intra-Africa trade and opportunities inherent in the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.

He gave the charge on Tuesday while delivering the closing remarks of the session, “The Africa Opportunity: Regional Collaboration and Trade Facilitation,” on the second and final day of the 2025 Commonwealth Enterprises and Investment Summit in London.

At the session, which focused on how Africa could leverage the potential in its 1.3 billion population to boost trade and investment, the governor noted that such integration and trade facilitation had never been more compelling than now in the face of harsh global and existential headwinds facing the continent.

“Such large population, plus Africa’s combined GDP of $3.4 trillion and the fact that the continent has 65 per cent of the world’s uncultivated arable land means Africa should actually be building the table – and not waiting to be invited to the table.

“But one of the challenges lies in translating Africa’s remarkable potential into real economic development that benefits the continent’s people. One of the solutions lies in fully exploiting the power of trade, particularly intra-Africa trade. It would seem 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.

He regretted that most of the objectives, including removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers, for which AfCFTA was established, were yet to be actualised, wondering how Africa’s $40bn annual spending on food imports could be rationalised.

“The dream of a continent-wide common market remains as yet elusive. Despite our frameworks, deep-rooted structural barriers still exist: Only 14.4 per cent of Africa’s trade is intra-African, compared to 69 per cent in Europe and 59 per cent in Asia.

“Just seven per cent of Africa’s trade moves by air, yet we still face the highest intra-continental flight costs in the world. Over 70 per cent 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 underutilised. 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 of the continent. These statistics are dismal, especially given that it is nearly a decade since the signing of the AfCFTA,” he stated.

Nevertheless, the governor said that “it is not all doom and gloom,” noting that it took the European Union over 35 years to launch its Single Market, but charged Africa to learn from the EU by taking action, prioritising 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 — one that harmonises trade rules, streamlines procedures, and builds confidence for businesses across borders.

“Second, investing in the enablers is critical – 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.

“AfCFTA is not a feel-good creation. Let us not allow regionalism to become a barrier to a pan-African growth. Let us unite our markets, our ports, our rails, and our ambitions.

“So, the message deductible from the discussions this afternoon is that Africa’s economic renaissance lies in extensive trade – not aid or charity. Let us turn potential into performance. The time is now,” he concluded.

It is recalled that Mbah had during the first day of the summit organised by the Commonwealth Enterprises and Investment Council, CWEIC, on Monday, led the State Governors Roundtable session where he marketed investment opportunities in Enugu State to global leaders and investors.

PresidObi:
Continue to shine forward Governor Peter Mba, you have proven that true leadership is in your DNA.

eastOFwest:
Even trade within Naija get barriers. I understand that it's costs less to move a container from China to Lagos than it costs to move same container from Lagos to Port Harcourt or Uyo or Calabar

Tabithatim:
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2025/04/08/gov-mbah-in-london-says-africas-economic-renaissance-lies-in-extensive-trade-not-aid/

Tabithatim:
https://enugustate.gov.ng/2025/04/08/enugu-govt-takes-delivery-of-100-tractors-900-more-underway/

eastOFwest:
Even trade within Naija get barriers. I understand that it's costs less to move a container from China to Lagos than it costs to move same container from Lagos to Port Harcourt or Uyo or Calabar

anonimi:
Looks like Enugu propaganda has overtaken Ekiti propaganda and Wike on nairaland.

What is the role of supermods in pushing such propaganda to the FP

anonimi:
Can you please share the professional basis that informed your understanding.

RuggedBiafran:
Igbo Governors trying their possible best to develop their region.

Yoruba Governors paying youths to push propaganda while their region is looking like GAZA.

Two regions ... different objectives

edet19892015:
Unless you understand your role in society, you can never make any meaningful contribution.

According to the Greeks, they are three types of people on Earth,
1. The idiots,
2. The tribesmen, and
3. The citizens.

Studies show only 10% of Africans are citizens.
The remaining 90% are either tribesmen or idiots.

1. When the Greeks used the word "Idiot", they did not use it as a curse word.
Idiots are people who just don’t care.
If they sit for exams, they will cheat.
If they are in government they will steal.

An idiot does not care at all, if he eats bananas he throws the peels anywhere instead of putting them in a trash bin.

IDIOTS won't attend monthly neighborhood meetings. They won't pay security dues. They won't contribute to community development. Even when they see or know about something that will harm others in the community they won't report it. When they see/know/have something that will benefit their community they won't share.

In fact, Idiots don't care to register for or vote in an election, yet they complain the most. If they register to vote, IDIOTS will sell their votes for peanuts.

According to the Greeks, some societies have more idiots than tribesmen and citizens.

2. The next set of people are "Tribesmen", these are people that look at everything from the point of view of their tribe.

These are people that believe in you only if you are part of their tribe.
It can be terrible to have a tribesman as a leader, he will alienate the rest.

When the Greeks talk about tribes, it’s not just about ethnicity, they also consider religion, gang membership, group membership, party membership and even cult membership as a tribe.

A great percentage of Africans are tribesmen, because they view everything from the point of view of their tribes. They trust only their tribesmen

3. The last group are "Citizens".
These are people who like to do things the right way.
They will respect traffic light rules even if no one is watching them.

They drive within speed limits.
They respect the laws, and won’t cheat in exams.
In government, they won’t steal.
They are compassionate and give to others to promote their well-being.

Citizens often promote projects that benefit everyone.
The Greeks called this group "The Citizens".

Some countries have more citizens than tribesmen and idiots, others have so many idiots.

A tribesman can become a citizen through orientation.
And an idiot can become a citizen by training and constant enforcement of the law.

But things fall apart if you elect an idiot or tribesman to lead you if he has not been reformed.

Where do you belong? Are you an idiot, a tribesman or a citizen? Reflect on your life.
Reflect about your immediate community, city, state and nation.

#EdetEdemAkpan #Share

PresidObi:
Can you dispute his claim?

anonimi:
When he shares the professional basis, then it becomes a claim worthy of dispute. Until then, he is just doing balablu blabbing.

eastOFwest:
Even trade within Naija get barriers. I understand that it's costs less to move a container from China to Lagos than it costs to move same container from Lagos to Port Harcourt or Uyo or Calabar

RuggedBiafran:
Igbo Governors trying their possible best to develop their region.

Yoruba Governors paying youths to push propaganda while their region is looking like GAZA.

Two regions ... different objectives

RuggedBiafran:
Igbo Governors trying their possible best to develop their region.

Yoruba Governors paying youths to push propaganda while their region is looking like GAZA.

Two regions ... different objectives

anonimi:
Can you please share the professional basis that informed your understanding.