The African Continental Free Trade Area's Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) was launched on 7 October 2022 to test and accelerate the implementation of the provisions of the AfCFTA.

Eight countries – Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania and Tunisia – were selected to participate in the first phase of the Initiative, trading a limited set of goods. South Africa joined in January 2024.

With the second phase of the GTI underway, Nigeria is strategically positioned to join, opening new avenues for trade growth. This move is particularly significant as Nigerian exporters, spurred by domestic economic challenges, look to the GTI as a gateway to wider African markets.

This report assesses the economic implications of Nigeria's participation in the GTI, analysing its current trade patterns, potential gains from tariff reductions, and strategies to maximise the benefits.

Report by the Overseas Development Institute