Kagame speaks on Buhari and the Nigeria problem | Nairalaw

Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda, says Nigeria is sorting things
out to get on the continental free trade area agreement, already
signed by a majority of countries in Africa.

Speaking at the Africa CEO forum on Monday, Kagame was asked if
the “Nigeria problem” will not affect the conclusion and take off
of the Africa free trade agreement.

In March 2018, 44 countries — including South Africa, Ghana, and
Rwanda — signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to
ensure easy transborder trade on the continent.

So far, 22 countries have ratified the agreement but only 21
have ratified and passed it through their individual
parliament.

It is expected that when 22 countries pass it through
parliament, the agreement will take effect, but Nigeria’s refusal
to even sign the deal remains a challenge for the trade deal.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who was initially on board, made
last-minute U-turn on the deal, and has refused to sign, stating
that he was consulting with manufacturers in Nigeria.

But responding to the “Nigeria problem”, Kagame said: “With
Nigeria, from my reading of things, there are sorting things out in
that direction, they would be naturally part of the continental
free trade area because if the sense it makes.”

“And it makes that sense to Nigeria as well, especially given
the benefits and impact it will have on Nigeria and also Nigeria
impact on the economy of the continent.

“The facts are very obvious, we are getting there”.

Asked if he was talking to President Muhammadu Buhari on getting
Nigeria to come on board, Kagame said: “Not at the moment, but we
were talking to President Buhari in the build-up to where we are
now, and I think that is as significant as talking to him now”

The agreement was brokered by the African Union (AU) with Kagame
as president and was signed on by 44 of its 55 member states in
Kigali, Rwanda on March 21, 2018.

The agreement initially requires members to remove tariffs from
90 percent of goods, allowing free access to commodities, goods,
and services across the continent.

Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s biggest industrialist, says he is in
support of the AfCfTA.