Strengthening Regional Trade: NACCIMA Partners GIZ to Boost Agricultural Markets Across West Africa By Raymond Enoch

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has launched a strategic partnership with GIZ under the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade (EAT) Programme to deepen regional integration, enhance cross-border agricultural trade, and expand opportunities for MSMEs across Nigeria and the wider ECOWAS region.

Speaking at the launch themed “Strengthening ECOWAS Agricultural Markets to Drive Food Security and Regional Prosperity,” NACCIMA President, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, highlighted agriculture’s growing importance, noting that the sector contributed 24.64% to Nigeria’s GDP in Q4 2024, with early 2025 estimates placing the sector at 27.8%.

Despite this strong contribution, he observed that Nigeria’s agricultural exports remain modest. He said the EAT Project is therefore timely, positioning NACCIMA to tackle trade bottlenecks, build SME capacity, and strengthen export competitiveness.

> “By unlocking regional agricultural trade, we are unlocking livelihoods, creating value, deepening integration, and advancing food security for millions across West Africa.”

NACCIMA Director-General, Olushola Obadimu, stressed that the ECOWAS region—with over 400 million people—offers enormous untapped market opportunities. He stated that NACCIMA’s role will focus on capacity building, improving standards, and strengthening SMEs’ participation in regional value chains.

For GIZ-EAT Programme Lead, Arne Schuffenhauer, NACCIMA remains a strategic partner due to its strong support services for traders and SMEs. He noted that cross-border food trade is a $10 billion business, underscoring the need to expand access to markets, finance, storage, and infrastructure.