WEST-EAST TRADE REPORT 2026 POLICY BRIEF

Amid rising global mercantilism—protectionist tariffs, friend-shoring, and geopolitical
fragmentation—the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers Africa a powerful
counter-strategy for inclusive regional integration and resilience. This policy brief analyses the
West-East Nigeria-Kenya trade corridor as a living model of AfCFTA operationalisation.
Drawing on 2024–2025 data, it shows Nigeria’s intra-African trade surging to US$18.4 billion
(127% growth) and Kenya reinforcing its East African gateway role, highlighted by Nigeria’s
first AfCFTA-compliant shipment to Mombasa in early 2025. Under the decisive leadership of
Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and William Ruto, institutional reforms, Digital Trade Protocol
ratification, and payment infrastructure advances (notably PAPSS) are delivering tangible
results.
The brief argues that presidential backing, combined with private-sector facilitation and sub
national engagement, creates a scalable, inclusive blueprint for AfCFTA success. It emphasises
value-chain integration across agriculture (including Nandi coffee cooperatives), agro
processing, digital services, lig
ht manufacturing, and logistics to unlock over US$77 billion in untapped intra-African export
potential while addressing infrastructure gaps, non-tariff barriers, and trade-finance shortfalls.
NiKCCIMA stands ready to support SMEs, women/youth entrepreneurs, farmers, and
cooperatives through targeted matchmaking, export readiness, and the Q3 2026 trade mission to
Nigeria. Recommendations call for immediate sub-national desks, scaled PAPSS adoption, and
multi-stakeholder partnerships to ensure equitable benefits for all Africans.