By Baba Adamu Isa
Coordinating Director of Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) Law and Policy Programme Division, has told the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce that the AfCFTA domestication Bill 2026, HB 2765 needs stronger oversight, coordination and accountability mechanisms.
Professor Ladan, a Director in the office of the Director General of National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) presented the summary of the memo today, Monday 27th, July, alongside members of his team, Dr. Usman Ibrahim and Dr Shamsu Yahya, to the House Committee on Commerce at the National Assembly Public Hearing on the AFCFTA Domestication Bill 2026 HB 2765.
The hearing was held at the 2nd floor, conference room 028, House of Representatives, National Assembly Abuja. He was with the Hon. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, and the National AfCFTA coordinator, Mrs Patience Okala.
According to him, “HB 2765 offers the most comprehensive framework for implementing the AfCFTA in Nigeria compared to previous bills.”
However, he observed that the bill has “Governance Gaps.” He said “The Treaties (Making Procedure, Etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026 provides important oversight, reporting, and accountability mechanisms that are missing from HB 2765.”
On institutions, he said “HB 2765 establishes relevant committees but does not adequately ensure cross-agency coordination or the inclusion of diverse stakeholders (e.g., National Assembly, state governments, business and civil society).”
He also noted “Reporting and Evaluation Deficits,” stating “There is no requirement for regular implementation reporting, economic impact assessments, or measurable performance indicators in HB 2765.”
On legal process, he said “HB 2765 lacks clear domestic procedures for adopting future AfCFTA protocols and does not require legal compliance certification.”
Prof Ladan recommended that the National Assembly “Amend HB 2765 to give the National Assembly explicit roles in oversight, including receiving reports, holding investigations, and monitoring implementation.”
He further recommended “Mandate annual reports to Parliament on implementation progress, challenges, use of AfCFTA preferences, and performance indicators.”
Other recommendations he listed include: “Require periodic assessments to evaluate the financial and economic impacts of AfCFTA implementation”; “Ensure that every new AfCFTA protocol or amendment is accompanied by a legal opinion certifying its consistency with the Constitution and Nigerian law”; and “Provide a clear legislative process for adopting future AfCFTA protocols and amendments, in line with section 12 of the Constitution.”
He also called to “Establish a centralised, electronic repository of all AfCFTA agreements, protocols, regulations, and implementation reports, accessible to stakeholders”; “Enhance collaboration among all relevant government agencies to prevent overlap and improve efficiency”; and “Include representatives from the National Assembly, state governments, business associations, SMEs, academia, women and youth groups, and consumer protection bodies” in the Implementation Committee.
Prof Ladan further recommended to “Monitor implementation using quantifiable indicators such as intra-African export growth, customs efficiency, digital trade participation, and inclusion of MSMEs and vulnerable groups”; “Develop a domestic mechanism for inter-agency coordination on trade disputes before escalation to the AfCFTA continental system”; and “Require ongoing public education and capacity-building for all stakeholders, including businesses, exporters, government officials, and legal practitioners.”
He added the need to “Incorporate provisions for data governance, cybersecurity, electronic authentication, AI in commerce, and harmonisation with data protection laws”; “Support domestic industries through phased implementation, export promotion, regional value chains, and trade adjustment assistance”; “Prescribe clear administrative consequences for non-performance by implementing institutions”; and “Include a provision for the Act to be reviewed every five years, or as needed, to stay aligned with AfCFTA developments.”
He also said the bill should “Review HB 2765 to eliminate conflicts with other trade-related laws and ensure coherence within Nigeria’s legal framework” and “Guarantee that the final legislation aligns with the AfCFTA Agreement, its protocols, and international best practices, while preserving the constitutional role of the National Assembly.”