Forty-four countries initially signed the agreement on March 21, 2018. Nigeria was one of 11 African Union countries to avoid signing the treaty. At the time, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said Nigeria could do nothing to undermine local producers and entrepreneurs. [53] The Nigerian Manufacturers` Association, which represents 3,000 Nigerian manufacturers, welcomed the decision to withdraw from the agreement. [53] Nigeria`s foreign minister tweeted that more internal consultations are needed before Nigeria can sign the agreement. [54] Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said Nigeria`s delay was regrettable. [55] The Nigerian Labour Congress called the agreement a “renewed, extremely dangerous and radioactive neoliberal political initiative”, suggesting that increased economic pressure would push workers to rush into difficult and precarious conditions. [56] After months of stakeholder consultations, the signing of the world`s largest trading area is imminent, with Nigeria accepting the signature at the last minute. AfCFTA is supposed to be the world`s largest trading bloc and allow more trade on the continent and facilitate movement within its borders. Nigeria was one of the last nations to sign the agreement. With a population of 200 million, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and has about 98 million inhabitants in the most populous countries, Ethiopia and Egypt. With a nominal GDP of $376 billion, or about 17% of Africa`s GDP, it is just ahead of South Africa, which accounts for 16% of the African economy.

Given that Nigeria is such an important country in terms of population and economy, its absence at the first signing of the agreement was particularly striking. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted this in his comments of 12 July 2018, commenting: “The continent awaits Nigeria and South Africa. Through trade between us, we are able to maintain more resources on the continent. South Africa signed the agreement later. [52] Nigeria was the 53rd state to sign the agreement, but such a commitment is also expected today by the Republic of Benin. EU Trade Commissioner Albert Muchanga announced on Friday that Benin had also confirmed that it would register today in Niamey. Yet Nigeria sent shockwaves across the continent with AfCFTA approval at a summit in Kigali in March.