Why Nigeria should lead Africa’s integration agenda — Odigie, ITUC-Africa gen sec

Comrade Akhator Joel Odigie is the General Secretary of the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa). In this interview with CHRISTIAN APPOLLOS, he argues that Nigeria must reclaim its leadership role in Africa by championing continental integration, visa-free movement, workers’ mobility, migrant workers’ protection and economic cooperation. He also speaks on AfCFTA, economic reforms, xenophobia and the future of African unity. Excerpts:

You have repeatedly argued that Nigeria should play a bigger role in Africa’s integration agenda. Why do you believe the country must lead this process?

The bigger issue for us is the integration challenge facing Africa. When we talk about migration, migrant workers and the protection of citizens, we cannot separate these issues from the need to integrate the continent.

Nigeria’s foreign policy has always had Africa as its centrepiece. That has not changed officially, but I think the fervency has reduced over time. If we look at the last three administrations, that commitment has diminished considerably.

Without going into politics, I would say that under President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s Africa-centred foreign policy was at one of its highest points. Nigeria was respected. Nigeria was listened to. Nigeria was seen as the Big Brother of Africa.

Today, people no longer describe Nigeria in those terms. That is not because the continent has changed. It is because Nigeria itself has stepped back from that role. I think we need to get that vibe back. We need to recover the confidence, leadership and influence that once made Nigeria a rallying point for African development and cooperation.

Some people dismiss the idea of Nigeria being the Big Brother of Africa, but there is value in that role. When Nigeria was seen as Big Brother, there was respect. There was influence. There was leadership. And there was a sense that Africa could count on Nigeria when major continental issues arose. That is why I believe Nigeria should lead the integration process. We are the continent’s largest population. We have one of its biggest economies. We have enormous human capital and entrepreneurial energy. We should be at the forefront of efforts to unite Africa economically, socially and politically.

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The President of the Republic has said the right things, particularly in Kigali. His messaging about African integration was correct. But there is often a gap between what governments say and what governments do. The challenge before us is ensuring that policy follows rhetoric.

The real question is this: when will we get to the point where governments say what they mean and mean what they say?

When our leaders speak about African integration, citizens should be able to see practical actions that demonstrate commitment to those ideals.

What practical steps should Nigeria take if it is serious about leading African integration?

One of the most important steps is removing barriers to the movement of Africans. I ask a simple question: how do we claim to support African integration while maintaining restrictive visa regimes against fellow Africans? Look at what is happening across the continent. Togo has become one of the latest countries to remove visa requirements for Africans. Ghana has begun implementing its no-visa policy for Africans. Kenya has taken bold steps. Rwanda has long demonstrated openness. So what is the Giant of Africa waiting for?

Nigeria should not still be here debating whether Africans should move freely across the continent. We should be leading that conversation. I commend the Nigerian government for introducing an online visa platform. It is a positive development. It makes travel easier than before, and that deserves recognition.

But, there is still more work to be done.

For example, I believe that any African country that has opened its borders to all Africans should automatically receive reciprocal treatment from Nigeria. If Kenya has opened its borders to Africans, why should Kenyans still be subjected to visa requirements when travelling to Nigeria?

The same principle should apply broadly across the continent.

Beyond that, there are technical challenges that need attention. The online platform is an improvement, but bandwidth limitations make document uploads slow and frustrating. Sometimes people think they have completed their applications only to discover that uploads failed.

There are also questions about accessibility. Why should some African countries be excluded from benefiting fully from the system? Why should Africans still encounter unnecessary barriers when trying to visit another African country?

Then, there is the issue of fees. We need to rethink the cost of visas and related charges. Some African countries charge Nigeria high fees. But leadership is not about copying negative examples. In diplomacy, there is reciprocity, but there is also the principle of going higher when others go low. Nigeria should lead by example.

I also struggle to understand why Africans should face biometric charges when travelling within Africa. If European countries, Canada, the United States or Australia impose such charges, then Nigeria can apply reciprocity to them. But Africa is different. We did not create these borders. They were imposed on us without our consent. Why should we continue using them to limit trade, cultural exchange, investment and human interaction among ourselves? We need to think differently if we genuinely want African integration.

How important is the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to this vision?

AfCFTA is one of the most important integration projects on the continent. But trade agreements alone cannot achieve integration if people themselves cannot move freely. Goods move because people move. Investment expands because entrepreneurs travel. Businesses grow because workers, skills and ideas cross borders.

If we truly want AfCFTA to succeed, we must create an environment where Africans can travel, trade, invest and work across the continent with fewer restrictions. The success of AfCFTA will depend not only on tariff reductions but also on our willingness to remove barriers that prevent Africans from connecting with one another economically and socially.

What benefits would Nigeria derive from greater openness and free movement across Africa?

The benefits are overwhelming. First, there is the issue of perception. Let us be honest: Nigeria’s image has suffered over the years. A significant part of that image challenge is based on misconceptions and negative stereotypes. The best way to change perceptions is through interaction. When people come to Nigeria, they discover realities for themselves. They see our cities.

They meet our people. They experience our culture. They realise that many of the things they have heard are simply not true.

That alone is valuable. Then, there are the economic benefits.

Whenever people travel, they spend money. They stay in hotels. They eat in restaurants. They use transportation services.

They shop in markets. They create economic activity. The benefits spread throughout the economy. Hotels employ workers.

Restaurants employ workers. Markets gain customers. Governments collect taxes from increased economic activity. The impact extends beyond immediate spending. Visitors often identify business opportunities. Investors discover markets. Entrepreneurs establish partnerships. Trade relationships emerge. These are benefits that cannot easily be quantified, but they are significant.

Beyond economics, what social and cultural gains can integration bring?

There are enormous social and cultural benefits. The more Africans interact, the better they understand one another.

The more we exchange ideas, traditions and experiences, the stronger our unity becomes.

People build friendships. Families are formed. Communities become interconnected. The more we know one another, the less room there is for suspicion, conflict and prejudice. Greater integration means greater cohesion. Greater cohesion means greater stability. Greater stability creates better conditions for development.

That is why opening up Africa is not merely a migration issue.

It is a development issue. It is a peace-building issue. It is an economic issue. It is a strategic issue for the future of the continent.

From a labour perspective, how would deeper integration benefit African workers?

Workers stand to benefit enormously from a more integrated Africa. Greater integration can create more employment opportunities, expand markets, encourage investment and improve labour mobility. It can also help workers transfer skills across borders and contribute to sectors where their expertise is needed.

However, integration must be people-centred. It cannot simply be about markets and profits. It must be about decent work, social protection and respect for workers’ rights. As trade unions, we want an Africa where workers can move, contribute and thrive without losing their rights or dignity.

As movement across Africa increases, how can governments better protect migrants from exploitation and abuse?

Migrant workers are central to this conversation. Too often, governments treat migrant workers as statistics or commodities. We must remember that they are human beings with rights, dignity and aspirations.

Governments have a responsibility to protect them.

This is why Migrant Resource Centres are important. The whole idea behind these centres is to provide better support to African migrants both within the continent and beyond. The objective is simple: services should be closer to migrants, more accessible and more effective. We want migrants to have access to information, guidance and support before they travel, while they are travelling and after they arrive at their destinations. But these centres can only succeed if migrants actually use them.

That is why awareness is so important.

In Nigeria, many people do not even know these centres exist. The government must do more to popularise them. We need media campaigns. We need public awareness efforts. We need to make sure citizens know where these centres are and what services they provide. Nigerians are among the most adventurous and enterprising people on the continent. They are constantly exploring opportunities. In doing so, they often face discrimination, exploitation and abuse.

These centres can help reduce those risks. At the same time, we do not see Migrant Resource Centres as competing with governments. Governments remain responsible for protecting citizens. Our role is to complement government efforts and strengthen existing protection systems.

There is also a broader lesson from countries such as the Philippines. The Philippines has demonstrated that migrant workers can become a major source of national development when governments actively support and protect them. In many respects, migrant workers have become one of the country’s most significant foreign-exchange earners.