Driven by the federal government’s targeted trade reforms, improved export processes and increased value addition across key sectors, Nigeria recorded strong progress in export-led growth and diversification, with non-oil exports increasing by 21% to reach $12.8 billion in the first half of 2025.
This is almost double the target of $6.5 billion and contributes to a trade surplus of 12 trillion naira for the same period.
This performance reflects a broader expansion in trade activity, with overall trade value increasing by 14%, with further growth expected as trade facilitation reforms and logistics infrastructure continue to mature.
Nigeria’s major non-oil exports include cocoa and cocoa derivatives (butter and powder), sesame seeds, cashew nuts, shea butter, ginger, hibiscus flowers, rubber, palm oil derivatives, fertilizers, cement and clinker, and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, which is at the forefront of policy reform in the export sector, outlined these achievements in its 2025 review of activities and 2026 priorities published last week.
The document, “2025: A decisive year for Nigeria’s industry, trade and investment,” assessed Nigeria’s economic repositioning under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.
“2025 marks a decisive stage in the repositioning of Nigeria’s economy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s New Hope Agenda,” the ministry said in its review.
The ministry said it has delivered important reforms and achievements that strengthen industrial capacity, expand exports and restore investor confidence.
“Non-oil exports increased by 21% to reach $12.8 billion in the first half of 2025, almost double the $6.5 billion target and contributed to a trade surplus of N12 trillion over the same period,” the ministry said in its review.
In a document published in The Nation, the ministry said: “The progress recorded in 2025 reflects strong collaboration between government agencies, the private sector and development partners, translating policy intentions into concrete and measurable economic outcomes.”
To this end, the ministry announced that it has partnered with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to strengthen the nation’s export capacity by training 27,352 exporters and certifying 200 small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for international trade.
The partnership with NEPC also supported 3,047 farmers through the distribution of hybrid seedlings and promoted inclusive trade through the Women’s Export Fund. This resulted in more than 67,000 applications and grants awarded to 146 women-led businesses.
Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones have generated more than $500 million in export revenue, created more than 20,000 direct jobs and strengthened their role as engines of export-led growth, industrialization and job creation through the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA).
“In food systems and traceability, we revitalized the Nigeria Commodity Exchange and launched the National Trade and Distribution Company in partnership with Afreximbank to support the development of value chains and traceable and structured trade in agricultural and mineral products,” the ministry added.
In November 2025, Nigeria launched the Talent Accelerator Network, part of the World Economic Forum’s global network of accelerators, with four co-chairs providing leadership: two from the private sector (the CEOs of the African Finance Corporation and the Nigerian Flour Mills) and two from the public sector (the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Minister of Education).
The accelerator focuses on providing a tailored plan of action to equip local industry with the necessary skills and enable digital export of surplus production capacity.
The ministry also said it had advanced operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and strengthened Nigeria’s leadership in shaping the future of integrated trade in Africa under the leadership of Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.
According to the review, Nigeria welcomed the AfCFTA Secretary-General along with 30 Nigerian digital operators to advance cooperation on digital trade and services exports.
“Nigeria was subsequently appointed co-chair of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade by the African Union Conference of Heads of State, along with Kenya and South Africa,” the report said, adding that President Tinubu was commended by Congress for promoting digital trade across Africa.
The ministry launched the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee, which brings together more than 20 public and private sector agencies, to strengthen coordination and enforcement, the review said.
The report added that Nigeria has gazetted a provisional schedule of tariff concessions, allowing Nigerian businesses to trade duty-free on 90 per cent of goods across Africa, and has become the first AfCFTA party to publish a five-year implementation review, ensuring evidence-based and accountable implementation.
The review enumerates several concrete actions taken to accelerate exports and competitiveness, including the first-ever national mapping of digital services identifying more than 200 companies across 17 sectors. Launch of dedicated air cargo export corridor to eastern and southern Africa in partnership with Uganda Airways and the United Nations Development Programme, reducing logistics costs by 50-75 percent
Other activities include hosting the AfCFTA Digital Trade Market Access Roundtable in Lagos with regulators from Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa. This effort provided first-hand insight into market entry rules, licensing requirements, and regulatory processes across these priority markets.
It has also published a market intelligence tool covering cosmetics, agro-products and textiles across 13 markets in Africa. “These interventions expanded access to industrial and agricultural exports and promoted the competitiveness of Nigerian products and small and medium-sized enterprises across regional markets,” the review said.
Nigeria has also secured hosting rights to major continental platforms such as the AfCFTA Digital Forum, Creative Africa Nexus 2026, AfCFTA Ministerial Conference 2026, Intra-African Trade Fair 2027, and Investopia.
These platforms will bring investors and global partners to Nigeria, opening up new markets and financing opportunities for enterprises, creatives, exporters, small and medium enterprises. “Hosting catalytic events will create jobs, raise the profile of local businesses and establish Nigeria as a leading hub for trade and innovation in Africa,” the review said.
The ministry said it not only recorded significant progress in export trade, but also in investment attraction in 2025, adopting a system-driven approach to improve project visibility, reduce information gaps and strengthen the bankability of investment pipelines.
The report noted that the new approach has yielded tangible results, with four priority investment projects worth $13.7 billion progressing to advanced stages, with a conversion rate of over 25 percent from the $50.8 billion in signed memorandums of understanding.
The ministry said it responded strategically rather than reactively to global economic headwinds, clearly demonstrating that Nigeria is open for business and recording a decisive turnaround in attracting investment.
