Nigerian exports to African nations climbed to N4.82 trillion during the first six months of 2025, marking a 14% increase from the N4.21 trillion recorded in the same period last year.
West African countries purchased more than 62% of Nigeria’s total continental shipments during this period.
According to Bloomberg, Nigeria Customs Service Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi said the upward trajectory demonstrates Nigeria’s position “as a hub for intra-continental trade and value chains,” describing it as “a clear signal of strengthening regional trade momentum.”
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data analyzed by Ecofin Agency confirms West Africa’s status as Nigeria’s dominant market across the continent.
ECOWAS member states imported N2.995 trillion worth of Nigerian goods, accounting for over 62% of the country’s African exports—a 16% year-on-year increase.
Petroleum products emerged as the top Nigerian export to the regional bloc, generating nearly N298 billion in revenue.
Despite the growth, African markets represented just 10% of Nigeria’s N43.3 trillion total export earnings in the first half of 2025.
The continent ranked as Nigeria’s fourth-largest export destination, trailing Europe (N17.3 trillion), Asia (N14.1 trillion), and the Americas (N6.9 trillion).
Nevertheless, Nigeria has implemented various initiatives to strengthen its position within the African Continental Free Trade
These measures include offering tariff concessions and establishing an air freight corridor to East Africa in May 2025, which is projected to cut export costs to the region by 50% to 75%.
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