Nigeria Clarifies UK Trade Agreement: No Provision for Lawyers’ Practice

In a recent press briefing, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, clarified that the Enhanced Trade in Partnership (ETIP) agreement signed with the United Kingdom does not include provisions for lawyers from either country to practice in the other.

The clarification comes in response to concerns raised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) about the potential impact on the legal profession in Nigeria.

The ETIP aims to facilitate smoother trade processes, allowing Nigerian businesses to export more goods to the UK and promoting economic growth through investments in infrastructure, technology, and manufacturing.

The agreement also encourages UK investors to explore Nigeria’s most promising sectors and offers capacity building and sensitisation for Nigerian exporters on how to benefit from the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).

Despite the NBA’s concerns, the minister emphasized that the agreement represents a significant step towards Nigeria’s goal of economic diversification and sustainable growth.

She also highlighted the importance of regulatory cooperation on Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT), which aims to prevent unnecessary technical barriers and promote good regulatory practices.

The NBA’s President, Yakubu Maikayau, had previously expressed concern that the Nigerian government had sealed an agreement with the UK for the purpose of allowing British lawyers to practice in Nigeria.

He argued that the decision was reminiscent of Nigeria’s colonial past and that the knowledge and skills gap between Nigerian and UK lawyers was too wide for fair competition.

Dr. Uzoka-Anite, however, stressed that the agreement was a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and not an agreement on legal practice.

The minister’s clarification has put to rest any confusion or concerns about the impact of the trade agreement on the legal profession in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s trade agreement with the UK aims to boost trade and investment between the two countries while promoting economic growth and development.

The clarification by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment has ensured that the focus remains on the trade and investment aspects of the agreement, rather than any potential impact on the legal profession.