GIZ, FMITI Equip Focal Persons To Power Nigeria’s Trade Portal

The German government, through Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), empowered focal persons from various trade-regulating agencies to manage and sustain the Nigeria Trade Information Portal (NTIP).

This comes when regional trade and digital infrastructure drive Africa’s economic future.

The three-day event held in Lagos was a hands-on, immersive experience designed to build real capacity and spark inter-agency collaboration, “the kind of collaboration that’s essential for Nigeria to fully align with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement and leverage the AfCFTA.”

Barrister Mike, an Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents participant, shared his experience: “A lot of procedures have changed since the cancellation of the SEMA Act 2014. Documenting these changes on the portal will make things seamless for importers and exporters.”

The training forms part of GIZ’s broader strategy to promote inclusive, transparent trade ecosystems across West Africa. The organisation has been instrumental in supporting digital tools, policy frameworks, and institutional strengthening — all crucial for operationalising agreements like the Afcfta.

“We see digital trade platforms like the NTIP as foundational infrastructure,” said Mr Bernard Tayoh, Head of Project GIZ Support to ECOWAS commission in the implementation of AfCFTA. “Our support is about ensuring that the tools are not only available but usable and impactful.”

NTIP is an online portal that provides businesses with step-by-step guidance on how to move goods across borders.

Whether exporting shea butter or importing tech components, the NTIP helps understand the rules, documentation, agencies involved, and timelines.

In a country where “who you know” has too often replaced “what you know,” the NTIP is transparency in action. Thanks to this training, the people behind the scenes—customs officers, regulators, and trade desk managers—are better equipped to keep that information current and accurate.