ECOWAS Recommends Domestication of AfCFTA, Harmonized Tax Regime

The ECOWAS Parliament has urged member states to accelerate the incorporation of AfCFTA protocols into national laws. Lawmakers also emphasized the need to align tax policies across countries to lower transaction costs and promote smoother trade within the region.

These recommendations, highlighted by Nigerian parliamentarian Hon. Sulaiman Gumi Abubakar, are documented in the report from the ECOWAS Parliament’s first extraordinary session of the 2026 legislative year.

The call to fast-track AfCFTA domestication reflects a broader effort by Nigerian policymakers to fully leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area.

In particular, Nigeria is prioritizing the reinforcement of its legal and regulatory frameworks, focusing on tariff concessions and trade in services, with the goal of achieving comprehensive implementation of the AfCFTA provisions.