Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, billionaire businessman and founder of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, urged African leaders to accelerate reforms that promote regional integration, free trade, and easier movement across the continent.
Rabiu shared a personal experience from February 2025 when he was denied entry into South Africa after arriving in Cape Town for the Mining Indaba because his visa had expired a day earlier.
He explained that although he accepted responsibility for the oversight, he was disturbed by the fact that European travellers arriving on other international flights were granted entry without visas while he, an African, was denied access within the continent.
According to him, the incident exposed the contradictions in Africa’s immigration and trade systems, which continue to hinder the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Rabiu noted that despite efforts by BUA Group to expand investments and supply products across African markets under the AfCFTA framework, inconsistent policies and lack of cooperation among member states have limited regional trade opportunities.
He described the implementation of AfCFTA as weak and frustrating, stressing that Africa’s economic transformation depends on stronger coordination in capital deployment, policy alignment, infrastructure development, value addition, and continental integration.
The businessman also argued that Africa does not lack financial resources but suffers from poor coordination and fragmented policies that discourage investment and industrial growth.
He called on African governments to establish transparent regulations, harmonised investment frameworks, and stronger cross-border financial systems to unlock economic growth.
Rabiu further highlighted the need for reliable infrastructure, including energy, transportation, and digital connectivity, saying industrialisation cannot succeed without them.
He concluded by urging African leaders to move beyond policy discussions and focus on practical implementation, warning that the future would favour coordinated execution rather than isolated efforts.
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