The Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) Abuja has advised the Federal Government against making Nigeria a dumping ground, as a result of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
This is just as it also called for the support of all stakeholders towards repositioning the nation’s economy.
In a statement to officially unveil plans ahead of the 2021 CICAN Annual Conference scheduled to take place on the 15th of October, 2021 at New Chelsea Hotel, Abuja, signed by the General Secretary of the Association, Comrade Mathew Ayoola, the Chairman, Comrade, Frederick Idehai urged Nigeria to take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA towards ensuring growth and national economic development.
The statement also emphasised the need for Nigeria to quickly diversify her economy through the export and promotion of local and agricultural commodities among other quality policies and initiatives, stating that the conference would equally recommend to the authority ways of strategies to adopt in getting it right.
The Chairman who expressed concern over difficulties experienced by Small Scale Business owners as a result of the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, commended the various interventions of the Federal Government, especially through MSMEs Survival Fund to cushion the devastating effect.
The 2021 CICAN Annual Conference with the theme “The Role Of Nigeria’s MSMEs, Export, Commodities, Trade and Investment In Stabilizing The Post COVID 19 Economy: Issues and Challenges” and sub-themes: “The Place of AFCFTA in Nigeria’s Economic Diversification Plan: Pros & Cons”. “FG’s MSMEs Survival Fund: Successes, Lessons, Pitfalls”would be declared open by the Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment.
Dignitaries to attend the conference include, the Minister and Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), some State Governors, Chief Executives under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and other stakeholders.
