CORRUPTION AS AN IMPEDIMENT TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA AGREEMENT AND AFRICAN TRADE: THE NIGERIAN PARADIGM

Abstract

This study looks at corruption as an impediment to the implementation of African Continental Free  
Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement and African trade. The paper undertook an overview of the corruption in 
Nigeria. It also discussed the legal and institutional efforts to tackle the issue of corruption. It also 
appraised the challenges of corruption on trade in Africa, especially the AfCFTA. A doctrinal research 
method, relying on primary and secondary sources of data collection was used. The primary source 
comprised legislations (1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria; Economic and Financial Crimes 
Act, 2004; Independent Corrupt Practices Commission Act 2004; Public Procurement Act, 2004 and a host 
of other transparency laws) and case law. The secondary source included textbooks, journal articles, 
newspapers, conference proceedings and the Internet sources. The study revealed that there is official 
corruption in Nigeria’s public life, capable of interfering with national development. It is also found that 
the challenges of official corruption have a deleterious effect on international trade, especially the trade in 
Africa. The legal and institutional frameworks in Nigeria are not robust and inadequate to curb official 
corruption, if weak implementation of the laws is not prevented. The study concluded that corruption is a 
major impediment to trade in Africa which needs to be curbed through stronger implementation of the 
domestic laws of the State Parties.