Executive Director of Development Specs Academy and a professor of strategic management and human capital development, Professor Okey Ikechukwu, MNI, has said the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) remains a “fantastic idea” but lacks practical implementation, warning that it still “doesn’t have legs on the ground.”
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Friday, Ikechukwu said the appointment of Nigeria’s Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, as Chairman of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) could serve as the catalyst to turn Africa’s trade ambitions into real outcomes.
He urged the continent’s leaders to shift focus from “documents, MOUs and speeches” to measurable results under Adeniyi’s leadership.
“After may be forced to wake up and realise that results — not documents, not MOUs, not speeches — are what matter… After is a fantastic idea. But it doesn’t have legs on the ground. At least as far as I can see,” Ikechukwu said.
He also praised the appointment of Nigeria Customs Service Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, as Chairman of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), calling it a global recognition of both personal merit and Nigeria’s institutional capacity.
He said Adeniyi’s election to lead the 186-member body demonstrates a strong vote of confidence in his professional capabilities and the reforms he has implemented in the Nigerian Customs Service.
“Well, it’s going to be handling 186 countries with different orientations, administratively, et cetera, but more than that, system differences also. So what I expect is that, you know, customs has its twin and challenging, and this will apply particularly in this case, of managing facilitation and enforcement. It’s supposed to enable goods coming, which is in order, but then, when you say you want to facilitate trade, does that remove from you the need to also enforce rules, pertaining to what should be done currently?” he said.
He identified system integration across member nations as another critical hurdle Adeniyi will face, noting the variation in customs capacity and infrastructure.
“Among these 186 countries, it’s not likely that all of them are on the same page. So what you’re going to find is that some will have to upgrade their capacities and equipment, among other things. So those will be some of the challenges. But again, beyond all of that, there’s a further question. How can he deal with this? Is he the kind of person who can deal with this? And the answer is yes.”
Ikechukwu cited Adeniyi’s track record since becoming Comptroller-General, including resuming the long-suspended annual Controller General’s Conference, clearing major port congestion, increasing revenue generation, and installing a scanning facility capable of processing 200 containers an hour.
“Each of the things he has done, either in reform or general administration, have been grounded on the needs of the environment. That pattern is likely to continue. Facilitation, resource enforcement, system upgrade across nations, harmonisation of procedures, the building of trust, among other things. So those are some of the things I think he may need to do.”
On how Nigeria stands to benefit from Adeniyi’s leadership of the WCO, Ikechukwu was emphatic that this was not a political favour but a reward for merit.
“I think in this celebration, we have to be careful by noting that Nigeria was not being done a favour by Adeniyi’s appointment. His capacity, his work, and his appointment. If you look at all the measures and reforms he has brought into play, some of the standard agreements, some of the things he concluded with countries, about six different, if you can enumerate them.”
He stressed that the appointment confirms Nigeria’s ability to produce world-class professionals.
“Now that he’s gotten the appointment, he’s a credit to Nigeria at three levels. At the first level, that the President or Presidency chose the right kind of person for the job. You know, when his name was announced, people said, oh, how can they make a man like that CG? He’s a public relations person. People mistake titles for capacity.”
He explained that as a seasoned public relations and intergovernmental affairs expert, Adeniyi had deep knowledge of the institution’s workings.
“If you’re public relations of an organisation, you’re one of the most informed about the challenges of the organisation. So that is the other thing on the table. A competent person who has facilitated a lot of international collaborations, a nation that was intelligent enough to appoint the right person, and then finally for Nigeria, he makes a point that needs to be repeated. This country has capacity, this country has competent people.”
Ikechukwu called on the Nigerian government to give Adeniyi full institutional and financial support to enable him to succeed on the global stage.
“If you want Adeniyi to succeed, don’t rely on the structures, funding and facilities of the commission. Fund him more to create an independent side office. The federal government has to give him extra leverage. Call him for a meeting and ask him what executive orders will further facilitate the efficiency and profile as a new chairman. Secondly, what funding do you need? Thirdly, do you need any extra person?”
“Give him what I call efficiency, facilitation, funding, and infrastructure. He needs funding because this will be further leverage. It’s not just the job of custom administration. He has become an ambassador.”
Ikechukwu added that Nigeria should seize this opportunity to improve its image and trade leverage on the world stage.
“Let him, ask him whether there’s a certain facilitation. Facilitate it, provide him extra funding. Because look at customs that turned in double the revenue of last year. On all fronts, he’s doing well. Promotion is now more merit-based. Collapse of the inspection platform. The list is endless.”
On Adeniyi’s role as a potential catalyst for intra-African trade, Ikechukwu was hopeful but realistic.
“He’s there as head of the WCO. He only happens to be a Nigerian. Now, since Okonjo-Iweala is also in that same address, working together doesn’t mean subverting the overall international system. It means trying to create paradigms that will not put Nigeria at a disadvantage.”
He urged collaboration across Africa to develop a common position on trade.
“This is the time to have an African point of view, and I think one of the things he should do is start trying to make it more convenient — some kind of roundtable. First of all, among regional heads of customs services, then Africa, they develop a common position from the West African region to the African, and so when they are going to the international, there’s a voice, which is what others do.”
On the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Ikechukwu criticised the lack of practical implementation.
“I called a very prosperous engagement of that African Free Trade Agreement. And I walked away with a lot of disappointment. African countries celebrate agreements. But we’ve signed this agreement, they wouldn’t know where to copy it, and it doesn’t apply.”
He noted that Adeniyi had already made tangible progress on trade transparency and origin verification.
“If you’re bringing goods into Nigeria, by the reforms he has ratified internationally and which is working, we know where you’re coming from. So already, before your goods arrive, we can determine the relationship our country has with you”,he said.
Boluwatife Enome
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