The Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called on African nations to radically reform their international trade dynamics by moving away from heavy dependence on raw material exports. He also urged the European Union (EU) to support Africa’s push for industrialisation through more equitable economic partnerships.
Speaking during a high-level engagement at the European Parliament in Brussels, Kalu emphasized the need to renegotiate existing Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to reflect Africa’s priorities — including value chain localisation, intellectual property protections, and policy space for industrial development.
“With only 15% of Africa’s trade being intra-continental, while over 80% of exports remain raw commodities, it’s time for change,” Kalu stated, citing recent African Development Bank (AfDB) figures.
The Deputy Speaker, who also chairs the Monetary and Financial Affairs Committee of the Pan-African Parliament, led a delegation to Brussels to advocate for economic justice, fair trade, and climate cooperation between Africa and the EU.
Key Demands from the EU
Kalu outlined several urgent priorities for Africa in the evolving EU-Africa partnership:
Renegotiation of EPAs to align with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Support for African industrial policy, including efforts to reduce non-tariff barriers.
Joint advocacy for debt cancellation, such as debt-for-development swaps.
Oversight on African countries in debt distress to ensure responsible lending and borrowing.
“This partnership must be based on mutual respect, sustainable development, and shared values — not paternalism,” he said.
Tackling Climate and Financial Injustice
The Deputy Speaker also highlighted Africa’s disproportionate burden in the global climate crisis, pointing out that the continent receives only 3% of global climate finance despite being the most climate-vulnerable.
“We lose over $88 billion annually to illicit financial flows — nearly twice the aid we receive,” Kalu noted, calling for the creation of a joint EU-Africa working group focused on asset recovery, base erosion, and tax transparency.
He called for unconditional climate financing, particularly through the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund, and demanded better alignment between the EU Green Deal and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
Kalu also urged the EU to scale up investments in Africa’s renewable energy space, noting that the continent possesses 60% of the world’s solar energy potential, but receives less than 1% of global solar investment.
A Vision for Migration and Local Development
On migration, Kalu stressed that empowering local economies was the most effective long-term strategy to curb irregular migration flows to Europe. He said that addressing root causes like youth unemployment, conflict, and climate stress would create a more stable and resilient continent.
“Localised development is not just a policy option — it is the most practical solution to irregular migration,” Kalu said.
He also advocated for structured talent mobility programs such as Erasmus+, digital nomad visas, and intra-company transfers to provide legal and dignified alternatives for African youth.
“Creating high-value jobs in digital services, green industries, and manufacturing is how we build a prosperous future for Africa,” he concluded.
