Deputy Speaker Kalu Urges Shift to ‘Functional Integration’ in AfCFTA at 2026 ECOWAS Parliament Session

At the 2026 First Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu called for an urgent transition from “paper integration” to “functional integration” in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region.

Kalu made the call while contributing to discussions where lawmakers examined strategies for deepening regional integration and expanding trade across West Africa.

Highlighting the gap between ambition and actual performance, Kalu noted that while intra-African trade reached $220.3 billion, representing 16 per cent in 2025, intra-ECOWAS trade remains at 11.5 per cent despite an estimated $3.4 trillion market potential within the sub-region.

“We must close the gap between aspiration and reality,” he said, stressing that AfCFTA should be viewed not merely as a trade agreement but as Africa’s strategic engine for industrial resilience.

The Deputy Speaker emphasised that infrastructure development alone would not guarantee success. He pointed to the strategic importance of the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor, urging that the initiative must move “from promise to performance.”

According to him, enforceable mechanisms are needed to eliminate non-tariff barriers and dismantle administrative bottlenecks that continue to weaken supply chains across the region.

On monetary integration, Kalu advocated a pragmatic approach, suggesting that rather than waiting indefinitely for the proposed regional currency, the Eco, West African states should prioritise the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).

“On monetary integration, pragmatism must guide us. Rather than wait indefinitely for the Eco, we should prioritise the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, a digital platform that enables instant local currency settlements, reduces dollar dependency, and saves billions in transaction costs annually.”

He described the digital platform as a practical solution that enables instant local currency settlements, reduces dependence on the dollar and saves billions of dollars annually in transaction costs.

“Africa must trade with itself to thrive, and truly functional integration is the path forward,” Kalu stated.