In a strategic move to improve Nigeria’s trade facilitation landscape, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to improve Nigeria’s trade facilitation landscape and train focal persons of the Nigeria Trade Information Portal to boost trade.
The three-day capacity-building workshop for focal persons of the Nigeria Trade Information Portal was held recently in Lagos.
According to a statement, it brought together key representatives from trade-regulating agencies to strengthen their ability to manage, update, and effectively promote Nigeria’s official digital trade facilitation platform.
”NTIP is a one-stop digital portal designed to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information on import, export, and transit procedures in line with the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement,” it said.
“It aims to remove bottlenecks, reduce trade processing time, and increase compliance with international standards, ultimately creating a more transparent and efficient trade environment for Nigerian businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises,” it added.
It noted that the training featured practical sessions on documenting trade procedures, system administration, data integration, and public engagement through the portal.
Meanwhile, it mentioned that experts in trade facilitation and digital platforms led participants through hands-on activities to enhance inter-agency coordination, data accuracy, and user experience on the NTIP.
Speaking at the event, the Head of Project for GIZ’s Support to the ECOWAS Commission in the Implementation of AfCFTA, Mr Bernard Tayoh, said, “This initiative is part of our ongoing support to strengthen institutional frameworks and simplify cross-border trade in West Africa.
“By building the capacity of those managing the NTIP, we are helping ensure Nigerian businesses have the information they need to trade efficiently.”
Participants from agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Shippers Council, and FMITI lauded the practical approach of the training and expressed commitment to regular updates of the portal’s content.
The statement further stated that focal persons were expected to implement internal action plans within their respective agencies to maintain the accuracy and relevance of trade procedures on the NTIP.
“A roadmap was also developed to guide ongoing collaboration, knowledge sharing, and user support beyond the training,” it added.
The training is part of the support to the ECOWAS Commission in the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and implemented by GIZ.
It emphasised that NTIP stands as a vital tool for expanding Nigeria’s footprint in regional and global trade under frameworks like AfCFTA.
