Nigeria’s exports to Africa grew by 14 per cent in the first half of 2025, reaching N4.82 trillion, up from N4.21 trillion in the same period of 2024. West Africa remained the largest destination, absorbing over 62 per cent of the country’s continental exports.
Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, told Bloomberg that the trend highlights Nigeria’s role as a hub for intra-continental trade and value chains. “This is a clear signal of strengthening regional trade momentum,” he said.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), reviewed by Ecofin Agency, show that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) purchased N2.995 trillion worth of Nigerian goods during the period, representing more than 62 per cent of total exports to Africa and a 16 per cent year-on-year increase. Fuel remained the most traded Nigerian product within the bloc, totaling nearly N298 billion.
Despite this growth, exports to Africa accounted for only about 10 per cent of Nigeria’s total exports in the first half of 2025, estimated at N43.3 trillion. The continent ranked as Nigeria’s fourth-largest export destination after Europe (N17.3 trillion), Asia (N14.1 trillion), and the Americas (N6.9 trillion).
To boost trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Nigeria has implemented a range of initiatives. These include tariff concessions and the launch in May 2025 of an air freight corridor to East Africa. The corridor is expected to reduce export costs to the region by 50 to 75 per cent, providing a more competitive pathway for Nigerian goods.
Analysts say these measures could accelerate Nigeria’s integration into regional value chains, enhance market access for locally produced goods, and expand the country’s role as a leading trading partner on the continent. The first-half growth underscores Nigeria’s increasing engagement with African markets and the potential for further expansion under AfCFTA agreements.
