Nigeria’s exports to other African nations surged to N4.82 trillion in the first half of 2025, marking a 14% increase from the previous year. Customs Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi noted that this growth reinforces Nigeria’s position as a central hub for intra-continental trade and regional value chains.
The West African sub-region remains Nigeria’s most vital market, absorbing over 62% of its continental exports. Total trade with ECOWAS nations reached N2.995 trillion, with fuel emerging as the most significant commodity, accounting for nearly N298 billion in sales.
Despite this regional success, African trade still accounts for only 10% of Nigeria’s total global exports, which reached N43.3 trillion. Currently, Africa ranks as Nigeria’s fourth-largest export destination, trailing significantly behind Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
To address this gap, the federal government is aggressively implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Key initiatives include the April 2025 gazetting of tariff concessions and the May 2025 launch of a dedicated air cargo corridor to East Africa.
This new air freight corridor, established in partnership with Uganda Airlines and the UNDP, is a major strategic milestone. It is expected to slash export logistics costs by 50% to 75%, making Nigerian goods more competitive in markets like Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa.
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