Nigerian industrialist Abdul Samad Rabiu has criticised trade practices in parts of Africa, saying policies meant to protect local industries are often shielding well-connected importers instead.

Speaking in an interview, the chairman of BUA Group cited his company's experience in Mali, where attempts to sell sugar faced barriers despite the absence of a strong local sugar industry, Billionaires Africa reported.

He said duties and taxes were structured in a way that made imported sugar from his company uncompetitive, even though it could have been sold at lower prices than existing supplies. According to Rabiu, the restrictions appeared to favour a local importer rather than encourage domestic production.

He added that he had proposed setting up a sugar refinery in Mali, but the plan did not move forward, with authorities continuing to rely on imports.

Rabiu said such policies highlight a gap between stated goals of industrial growth and actual implementation. He also expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the African Continental Free Trade Area, saying regional trade integration remains limited in practice due to policy barriers.

The business leader pointed to infrastructure and operating costs as major challenges across the continent, noting that issues such as energy supply, transport and policy uncertainty make it difficult for companies to scale operations.

He contrasted this with his company's experience in Nigeria's cement sector, where earlier government policies supported local production. Today, Nigeria has become a cement exporter, supported by domestic resources and investment.