International Law and Digital Trade: Nigeria’s Legal Framework for Cross-Border E-Commerce Under the AfCFTA

This research analytically and empirically examines Nigeria's legal framework for cross-border e-commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) digital trade provisions and broader international digital trade law, assessing whether Nigeria's regulatory environment enables or hinders participation in the African digital economy. Digital trade has become a major driver of economic growth in Africa, with Nigerian e-commerce platforms operating across borders in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, yet the legal infrastructure for cross-border digital transactions remains fragmented. Using a mixed analytical methodology combining legal analysis of AfCFTA protocols, the WTO Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, and UNCTAD e-commerce frameworks with assessment of Nigeria's domestic digital trade regulatory environment, the study examines the legal gaps in areas including cross-border data flows, digital payment regulation, consumer protection in cross-border e-transactions, and customs treatment of digitally delivered goods. It fills a gap in the literature by providing the first comprehensive assessment of Nigeria's digital trade legal environment specifically in the AfCFTA context, updating earlier WTO-focused analyses. Findings indicate significant regulatory fragmentation, overlapping jurisdiction between CBN, NITDA, and FCCPC on digital trade matters, and inadequate consumer protection frameworks for cross-border e-commerce. An original AfCFTA digital trade compliance framework for Nigerian e-commerce operators is developed. Recommendations include enactment of a comprehensive e-commerce statute, harmonisation of digital trade regulations, and active participation in AfCFTA digital trade protocol negotiations. Keywords: digital trade, AfCFTA, e-commerce, Nigeria, WTO.