Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, has forcefully advocated for a fundamental restructuring of Africa’s trade relationships with the world. He argues that the current model, in which Africa exports approximately 80% of its resources as raw materials, perpetuates a cycle of economic dependency and hinders the continent’s industrial development. Speaking at a meeting with European Parliament member Fabio De Masi, Kalu emphasized the need to renegotiate existing Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union. He stressed that these revised agreements must prioritize value addition within Africa, protect intellectual property, and create space for the development of robust industrial policies. This shift, he argued, is essential to unlock Africa’s economic potential and move away from its current role as a primary supplier of raw materials.
Kalu, leading a delegation from the Pan-African Parliament’s Monetary & Financial Affairs Committee, highlighted the critical need for a more equitable partnership between Europe and Africa. He specifically called for a relationship grounded in economic justice, fair trade practices, and a shared commitment to climate justice. These principles, he believes, should form the bedrock of any future collaboration between the two continents. Furthermore, Kalu underscored the urgency of addressing Africa’s debt burden, advocating for debt cancellation mechanisms and debt-for-development swaps. He also pushed for parliamentary oversight of African nations facing debt distress, urging reforms in global debt governance to prevent future crises. These financial measures, he argued, are crucial to creating a more stable and prosperous future for Africa.
Central to Kalu’s argument is the necessity of aligning trade architectures between the EU and Africa with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This alignment, he believes, will bolster intra-African trade, currently at a meager 15%, and foster the development of African industries. He further called for a reduction in non-tariff barriers, which often disproportionately impact African exporters. Beyond trade, discussions also encompassed critical issues such as tax justice, ensuring developed nations pay their fair share in global taxation, the provision of adequate climate finance to support Africa’s adaptation and mitigation efforts, management of migration flows, and strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation to enhance dialogue and collaboration.
Addressing the pervasive issue of illicit financial flows (IFFs), Kalu pointed out that Africa loses an estimated $88 billion annually to these illegal outflows, a sum nearly double the amount it receives in official development assistance. He called for the creation of a joint EU-AU working group to combat IFFs, focusing on asset recovery, curbing base erosion and profit shifting, and enforcing transparency obligations within the EU. Furthermore, he stressed the need for unconditional climate finance and robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure transparency and effectiveness in the implementation of climate-related projects. Despite being the continent most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, Africa receives a disproportionately small share of global climate finance, a disparity Kalu emphasized must be rectified.
Kalu championed the idea of Africa as an active partner, not a passive recipient, in the global green transition. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing African-led energy solutions and technologies tailored to local contexts. He highlighted the vast untapped solar energy potential in Africa, which holds 60% of the world’s solar resources yet receives less than 1% of global solar investment. This imbalance, he argued, must be addressed to unlock Africa’s renewable energy potential and contribute to a sustainable future. Kalu called for increased investment in solar energy infrastructure, emphasizing the need for the EU Green Deal to align with Africa’s Agenda 2063, focusing on climate adaptation, renewable energy access, and the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund.
Finally, Kalu addressed the issue of migration, asserting that localized development and economic empowerment within Africa are the most effective long-term solutions to irregular migration flows to Europe. He proposed tackling the root causes of migration, including conflict, youth unemployment, and climate-induced stresses, through a holistic approach that combines border security with humanitarian considerations. He advocated for expanding talent mobility initiatives, such as Erasmus+ programs, digital nomad visas, and intra-company transfers, to provide structured channels for legal migration and skills development. Ultimately, Kalu emphasized that creating high-value jobs within Africa, particularly in emerging sectors like digital services, green industries, and manufacturing, offers the most sustainable and dignified alternative to irregular migration, fostering economic growth and prosperity within the continent.
