African leaders meet amidst global trade tensions
Friday, June 27, 2025 | 20 Views |
Kicking off: Delegates arrive at the Afreximbank Annual Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria PIC: MBONGENI MGUNI
At least 6,000 delegates from across the continent and the Caribbean are meeting this week in the Nigerian capital, hosted by Afreximbank, the pan-African trade bank with assets exceeding $40 billion.
The annual meeting comes under the shadow of increasing global uncertainty, particularly the blanket tariffs threatened by the United States which could kick off early next month imposing levies of up to 50% on African exports to that country.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...