Former
President Olusegun Obasanjo has again slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for
failing to sign the Africa Continental Free Trade Area agreement.
The former President, however, expressed hope
that the President will change his mind before it is too late.
Obasanjo
spoke his mind on the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, during a
presidential panel, titled: ‘When Leaders Make History’ at the Africa CEO Forum
in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on Tuesday.
The former Head of State was joined by the
President of Zimbabwe, Emerson Mnangagwa.
Obasanjo said, “That President Buhari didn’t
sign the free trade agreement in Kigali is disappointing; I hope he signs it
before it is too late.
“Egypt started the discussion on the formation
of the Organisation of African Unity but didn’t conclude it and Nigeria took
over.
“Nigeria was also central to the discussion of
the free trade agreement, but I am surprised that the country withdrew from
signing.”
The AfCFTA treaty is one of the flagship
projects of the African Union Agenda 2063.
It is targeted at creating a single continental
market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons,
investments and a single currency.
Also, the agreement commits countries to
removing tariffs on 90 per cent of goods and to liberalise services.
Also items identified as sensitive, which make
up the balance 10 per cent, will also be phased out later as tariff-free.
0 Comments