Driving AfCFTA: Nigeria eyes $50bln In Trade Deals as 2027 IATF host

Nigeria has formally signed the host country agreement for the fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair “IATF 2027”, positioning Lagos to host one of the continent’s largest trade and investment events in November 2027.

The agreement was signed on Monday, March 9, 2026, during a ceremony held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (formerly National Theatre) in Iganmu, Lagos that brought together senior government officials, regional trade leaders, and representatives of multilateral financial institutions involved in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Nigeria’s hosting rights for the 2027 edition of the trade fair were formalised in the presence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who chairs the IATF Advisory Council.

Other participants in the ceremony included Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), George Elombi, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, and African Union Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, Francisca Tatchoup Belobe.

The host agreement confirms Lagos as the venue for the next edition of the continental trade fair, following the 2025 edition held in Algiers, Algeria.

Organisers say the 2027 fair is expected to facilitate trade and investment deals worth more than $50 billion.

The week-long event is projected to attract more than 100,000 visitors and approximately 2,500 exhibitors from over 100 countries.

The Intra-African Trade Fair is organised by Afreximbank in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the African Union to promote trade among African countries under the continental free trade framework.

Officials say the event functions as a marketplace where businesses, governments, investors, and financial institutions meet to negotiate cross-border transactions and commercial partnerships.

Nigeria has been one of the most active participants in previous editions of the fair.

At the 2021 edition of the event held in Durban, South Africa, Nigerian companies and institutions accounted for approximately $16.5 billion in deals, representing about 39 percent of the total value of transactions recorded during that edition.

At the 2025 edition in Algiers, Nigeria also recorded several commercial agreements and recognitions.

The delegation from Ogun State received the “Most Sustainable/Going Green” award during the event.

In addition, Afreximbank signed a $1 billion financing agreement with the Bank of Agriculture aimed at expanding agricultural financing across the country.

Officials involved in the fair say the platform is designed to connect African producers and exporters with buyers across the continent.

Through the AfCFTA framework, businesses participating in the event gain access to a continental market estimated at about 1.4 billion people, with a combined gross domestic product valued at more than $3.5 trillion.

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council says participation in the fair provides a platform for Nigerian manufacturers and exporters, including micro, small and medium enterprises, to expand exports and form supply chain partnerships within Africa.

Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nonye Ayeni, said the event will allow Nigerian products to reach buyers across African markets and increase the visibility of locally manufactured goods.

The selection of Lagos as the host city places the event in Nigeria’s commercial and financial centre.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the Lagos State Government intends to integrate the trade fair into the state’s economic development agenda and infrastructure planning framework, adding that the state will coordinate with federal authorities and international partners to prepare facilities, transport infrastructure, and hospitality services required for the event.

Officials expect the fair to generate activity across sectors, including logistics, hospitality, aviation, tourism, manufacturing, and the creative industries.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the IATF Advisory Council, Obasanjo, referenced the historical role of Lagos in continental economic planning, noting that the city hosted the adoption of the Lagos Plan of Action by African leaders in 1980.

The Lagos Plan of Action outlined strategies for economic cooperation and industrial development across the continent and remains one of the early policy frameworks for regional economic integration in Africa.

The fifth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair is scheduled to take place from November 5 to November 11, 2027, in Lagos.

Organisers say preparations will involve coordination between the Nigerian federal government, the Lagos State Government, Afreximbank, and the AfCFTA Secretariat to deliver exhibition infrastructure, conference facilities, and supporting services required for the international event.

The fair is expected to include business exhibitions, trade negotiations, sector-specific conferences, investment forums, and networking sessions involving public and private sector stakeholders from across Africa and other global markets.