Implications of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) on the Economy of African States
The failure of some African Union member-nations including Nigeria to endorse the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) that would create one of the largest free trade areas in the world has provoked a lot of controversies that are yet to be resolved. While some of the relevant stakeholders in the countries that have refused to sign the treaty are urging the heads of their countries' governments to withhold assent until when all the contending issues regarding the AfCFTA are amicably settled, others desire to have the agreement signed in order to harness its benefits for the continent. As the controversies rage, it appears that the implementation of the much awaited agreement has been put on hold, thus thwarting the progress of the continent. This chapter therefore wades through the controversies and points the way ahead for the AfCFTA to be acceptable by all.