The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has called on Nigeria and other countries in West and Central Africa to adopt a “food-first” approach before fully implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
In its latest policy bulletin titled “Food Security Before Free Trade: A Call for Strategic Sequencing in the AfCFTA Era,” SEREC emphasized that achieving sustainable regional trade integration depends on first strengthening domestic agricultural systems and food supply resilience.
According to the report, over 26 million Nigerians currently face acute food insecurity driven by inflation, flooding, conflicts, and low agricultural productivity. The Center warned that rapid trade liberalisation without improving domestic production capacity could lead to market flooding, job losses, and growing dependency on imported food.
“We cannot trade what we do not produce. The foundation for meaningful trade integration must be strong local production, efficient logistics, and resilient food systems,”
SEREC identified major structural barriers such as poor mechanisation, limited irrigation, high post-harvest losses, and inadequate logistics infrastructure as critical challenges that must be addressed before full AfCFTA rollout.
To ensure a balanced and sustainable implementation, SEREC recommended:
- The adoption of a Food-First National Framework prioritising agricultural productivity, mechanisation, biotechnology, and strategic grain reserves.
- Strengthening regional trade intelligence systems and monitoring non-tariff barriers.
- Reforming fiscal systems to include smart subsidies, accessible agricultural credit schemes, and social safety nets for sectors affected by trade liberalisation.
The Center cautioned that without these preparatory steps, the region could experience widening inequality and weakened rural economies.
“Food security is not just an economic issue; it is a matter of national stability and human dignity. Africa’s trade integration must be built on the strength of African farms,” SEREC added.
The policy bulletin aligns with SEREC’s ongoing research efforts on maritime trade, logistics, and sustainable development within the African sub-region.
About SEREC
The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) is a development-focused research institution committed to advancing sustainable maritime policy, trade facilitation, and socio-economic empowerment across Africa.
Date: October 28, 2025
Location: Lagos, Nigeria