West African Industrial Leaders Identify Logistics and Non-Harmonized Standards as Primary Barriers to Intra-Continental Trade

Manufacturers at the West Africa Trade Summit identify poor standards and logistics as major trade barriers, calling for value addition over raw material exports.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 5:31 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from LEADERSHIP

Harmonization of Standards as a Prerequisite for Regional Expansion

The expansion of trade within the West African sub-region is currently hampered by a lack of reciprocal certification standards between neighboring countries. George Onafowokan noted that while individual nations have made progress in standardisation, a "single approval" model is missing. Under current conditions, a product approved in Nigeria may still face regulatory hurdles in Ghana or Cameroon, creating unnecessary friction for manufacturers. Onafowokan emphasized that for intra-African trade to truly thrive, governments must adopt harmonized standards that are universally acceptable across borders, effectively treating the continent as a single regulatory market.

Logistics Infrastructure and the Border Revenue Trap

Beyond regulatory hurdles, the physical movement of goods remains the most significant operational challenge for African manufacturers. Multiple border charges and poor road infrastructure significantly increase the cost of doing business. Onafowokan criticized the tendency of governments to view border crossings primarily as revenue-generating points rather than trade enablers. This mindset results in inconsistent policies and simplified cross-border logistics being ignored in favor of immediate tariff collection. To correct this, he advocated for a more robust container transport system and a reduction in administrative bottlenecks that currently frustrate the seamless movement of cargo.

Transitioning From Raw Material Source to Value-Added Producer

A critical theme of the summit was the urgent need for African economies to move up the global value chain. Onafowokan highlighted a trade imbalance where Africa remains a primary source of raw materials such as crude oil and cocoa while remaining the largest consumer of the finished products made from those same resources. By drawing a comparison with China’s processing of imported copper, he argued that Africa must prioritize local processing to build a strong trade balance. "Until we prioritize value addition, our non-oil exports will never surpass oil exports," he stated, suggesting that unprocessed material exports should be discouraged through deliberate policy shifts.