Abuja Fair Focusing On Resilience, Taxation, Economic Challenges, Billed for September

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) said the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair (AITF) 2026, will focus on building economic resilience, taxation reform and responses to mounting fiscal challenges when it opens in September,

At a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, ACCI director general Agabaidu Jideani, said the fair would provide a forum for trade, investment and regional economic cooperation.

He said this year’s edition, themed “Resilience: Trade, Taxation and the Economy,” taking place from September 25 to October 6, 2026,  with projected more than 100,000 participants and over 500 exhibitors, will address issues such as inflationary pressures, exchange‑rate volatility, changing tax regimes, supply‑chain disruptions and technological change.

Jideani said the fair aims to create opportunities for businesses, investors and policymakers to discuss solutions, strengthen partnerships and support economic growth. He also reiterated ACCI’s commitment to advocating policies intended to improve the ease of doing business and attract investment.

Jideani said the chamber will involve its institutions — the Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce Dispute Resolution Centre (NCC‑DRC), the National Policy Advocacy Centre (NPAC) and the Abuja Trade Centre (ATC) — to provide capacity development, dispute‑resolution and policy advocacy during the event.

Chairman of the AITF organising committee and ACCI’s first deputy president, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, said the 12‑day exhibition is expected to feature more than 500 exhibitors displaying some 10,000 products, technologies and services.

He said participants will include manufacturers, financial institutions, government agencies, development organisations, diplomatic missions, investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers from Nigeria and abroad.

Adesugba said the fair will focus on trade and investment, discussions on taxation reforms, Business‑to‑Business and Business‑to‑Government engagements, economic diversification and private‑sector policy advocacy.

He also said the 2026 edition will introduce the Miss Abuja International Trade Fair pageant, and that the programme will highlight sectors such as financial technology, digital payments, tax technology, sustainable transportation, food processing and environmental sustainability.

Organisers added the fair will include networking and entertainment elements, including the Miss AITF 2026 competition and the BABAFEST AITF Weekend (Buy Africa, Build Africa Festival), which they described as a showcase for music, fashion, visual arts and creative‑industry networking. The organisers appealed to media organisations to support promotion of the event and encourage participation