The Federal Government has urged business owners in Nigeria’s Southeast to fully leverage the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) to enhance cross-border trade and expand their markets across West Africa.
The scheme, which provides duty-free access to markets across the 12 other ECOWAS member states, primarily targets Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as larger manufacturers operating in Nigeria.
Speaking at a one-day sensitisation workshop in Enugu on Tuesday, themed “Increasing Intra-Regional Trade through ETLS,” the Director of the ECOWAS National Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olawale Emmanuel Awe, explained that the initiative allows goods produced within ECOWAS countries to move freely without Customs duties.
However, he cautioned that the scheme strictly excludes the re-exportation of imported products.
“We don’t want a situation where someone imports goods from China and re-exports them. Only products genuinely made in Nigeria qualify,” Awe emphasized.
He noted that the ETLS, one of the key protocols established with the founding of ECOWAS in 1975, is designed to facilitate the free movement of goods and services and promote regional economic integration and prosperity.
Awe further highlighted that businesses must complete the official registration process to enjoy the scheme’s benefits.
“Any manufacturer in Nigeria seeking to participate must register with us. They are required to submit product samples, after which the National Approval Committee—comprising representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SON, NAFDAC, Customs, MAN Export Group, and NEPC—will inspect their factories to verify that their products are truly made in Nigeria,” he explained.
The Federal Government continues to promote ETLS nationwide through workshops and outreach programmes aimed at educating business owners on how to access and benefit from regional trade opportunities.