Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has called on African nations to leverage intra-Africa trade and opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to drive the continent’s economic growth.
Speaking at the 2025 Commonwealth Enterprises and Investment Council summit in London, Mbah emphasised that Africa possesses the necessary resources, including a large population, vast arable land, and a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion, to build its own economic infrastructure rather than relying on external aid or waiting for invitations to the global economic table.
A statement issued by Mbah’s Senior Special Adviser on External Relations, Uche Anichukwu, highlighted the governor’s remarks, noting that Africa must work towards regional integration and trade facilitation to overcome global challenges.
Mbah stressed the importance of tapping into intra-Africa trade, saying, “Africa’s population and economic potential present an opportunity to establish a thriving, self-sustained economic system. But for this to happen, we must move from the realm of potential to actualised economic development for our people.”
The governor also pointed to the significant benefits of AfCFTA, citing a World Bank estimate that the agreement could lift 30 million Africans out of extreme poverty, raise the incomes of 68 million people, and boost the continent’s income by $450 billion by 2035.
However, Mbah expressed concerns that many of AfCFTA’s key goals, such as removing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, have yet to be fully realised. He also pointed out the paradox of Africa spending $40 billion annually on food imports, which he believes underscores the need for stronger internal trade systems.
He said, “The dream of a continent-wide common market is still far from being realised. Despite frameworks like AfCFTA, Africa’s trade structure remains hampered by deep-rooted barriers.”
The governor cited alarming statistics about Africa’s trade patterns: 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. He also highlighted the continent’s underdeveloped transport infrastructure, noting that over 70 per cent of goods are transported by road, with poor infrastructure and border delays causing losses of over $4 billion annually. Furthermore, air travel remains costly, with just seven per cent of Africa’s trade moving by air, and maritime transport is underutilised.
“Even rail systems, the most cost-effective bulk trade option, are either outdated or disconnected in most parts of the continent,” Mbah said, adding that these infrastructural gaps are particularly concerning considering it has been nearly a decade since the AfCFTA was signed.
Governor Mbah’s comments reflect the urgent need for Africa to overcome trade barriers and harness its internal resources to foster long-term, sustainable economic growth.
