Appraisal of the Benefits and Barriers of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement: Implications for Nigeria's Export Strategies

This study critically evaluated the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) on economic growth in Nigeria. The study adopts qualitative method to assess the barriers of AfCFTA on Nigeria's export strategies. More so, it builds on inductive approach to appraise the measures of economic diversification on net exports of Nigeria. This study adopts institutional theory and macroeconomic principles to unveil that AfCFTA has significant benefits for Nigeria's export strategies. This study concludes that AfCFTA contains some benefits and barriers especially during national implementation phase. It recommends appropriate institutional measures to boost the benefits of this economic agreement in Nigeria.

本研究批判性评估了非洲大陆自由贸易协定（African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCFTA）对尼日利亚经济增长的利好效应。研究采用定性研究方法，探析非洲大陆自由贸易协定对尼日利亚出口战略形成的阻碍因素；进一步依托归纳式研究路径，评估经济多元化举措对尼日利亚净出口的影响。本研究依托制度理论与宏观经济学原理，揭示出非洲大陆自由贸易协定对尼日利亚出口战略具有显著的正向推动作用。本研究最终得出结论：非洲大陆自由贸易协定在国家级实施阶段兼具利好与阻碍双重属性。据此，本研究提出应制定适配性制度举措，以强化该经贸协定在尼日利亚的政策红利。