Daniel Otera
Nigeria’s ambitious economic diversification strategy has achieved a significant milestone, with the non-oil export sector demonstrating remarkable resilience and growth that could reshape the nation’s economic landscape for decades to come.
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has announced that the country’s non-oil exports climbed to $3.225bn in the first half of 2025, marking a 19.59 per cent increase over the $2.696bn recorded in the same period last year.
The substantial growth in non-oil exports represents more than mere statistics it signals a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s economic structure. Shipment volumes also rose to 4.04 million metric tonnes in H1 2025, up from 3.83 million metric tonnes in H1 2024, with the growth being largely driven by increased global demand for Nigerian products from emerging markets, including India, Brazil, Vietnam, demonstrating the country’s expanding reach in global trade networks.
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, revealed that Nigeria’s non-oil products exported in the first quarter of 2025 recorded a significant value of 1.791 billion dollars, representing a 24.75 per cent increase over the 1.436 billion dollars reported in the first quarter of 2024.
Analysis of the export data reveals a strategic diversification beyond traditional agricultural commodities. Nigeria now exports 236 distinct products, representing a 16.83 per cent increase from the 202 products exported during the corresponding period in 2024. This expansion demonstrates the country’s growing manufacturing capabilities and value-addition initiatives.
Cocoa beans led the top 20 products exported in H1 2025, accounting for 34.88 percent of total export value, up from 23.18 percent in the same period of 2024. Urea and fertiliser ranked second with 17.65 percent, compared to 13.78 percent in H1 2024.
The commodity composition reveals Nigeria’s strategic positioning in global value chains. Urea and fertiliser exports, ranking second amongst export commodities, highlight the country’s emergence as a regional agricultural input supplier, potentially boosting food security across West Africa.
The data shows Nigeria’s increasing integration within African markets, with significant implications for continental trade dynamics. Nigeria exported 663m metric tonnes of products within ECOWAS in the first half of 2025, positioning the country as a key supplier within the regional economic community.
This regional trade expansion aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) objectives, with Nigeria leveraging preferential market access to strengthen its position as West Africa’s largest economy.
The surge in fertiliser and urea exports, alongside the growth in semi-processed products, indicates a gradual shift from raw commodity exports towards value-added manufacturing. This transition is crucial for Nigeria’s long-term economic sustainability and job creation potential.
Ayeni noted that “the non-oil export of Nigerian products is gradually diversifying from traditional agriculture exports to semi-processed/manufactured products,” signalling a structural transformation that could reduce the economy’s vulnerability to global commodity price fluctuations.
Nigerian exporters are successfully penetrating diverse global markets, with the Netherlands, United States, and India emerging as the top three destinations for Nigerian non-oil exports in H1 2025, accounting for 18.64 per cent, 8.42 per cent, and 8.36 per cent of total export value respectively.
This geographic diversification reduces market concentration risks and creates multiple revenue streams, enhancing the sector’s resilience against regional economic downturns.
The NEPC’s strategic interventions have contributed significantly to the sector’s growth. The commission distributed 23,239 hybrid seedlings and other farm inputs to 3,047 farmers nationwide, covering cocoa, sesame, and oil palm cultivation.
“This intervention programme has significantly enhanced the quality of produce by our farmers as well as increased the production of these commodities for export into the global market,” Ayeni explained.
The growth in Nigeria’s non-oil exports is making a measurable contribution to the nation’s economy. Academic research indicates that a 1 per cent increase in non-oil export revenue is associated with a 1.46 per cent rise in real GDP (SSRN, 2024). Beyond the figures, the sector generates thousands of jobs across skill levels — from smallholder farmers in cocoa, sesame, and oil palm value chains to technicians in fertiliser blending plants and workers in logistics hubs.
The export-led expansion is creating what economists describe as a “multiplier effect”, stimulating demand in processing, packaging, transportation, warehousing, and financial services. This broad economic activity supports poverty reduction and fosters inclusive growth, according to a 2023 policy paper on Nigeria’s trade and development (Econstor, 2023).
However, sustaining this trajectory will require targeted investments in critical infrastructure. Studies have shown that efficient ports, reliable transport networks, and modern cold chain systems are essential to maintaining competitiveness in global markets (ResearchGate, 2024). Without such facilities, Nigeria risks losing market share to better-connected competitors.
Diversifying the economy and increasing non-oil exports are key to enhancing economic resilience, particularly given Nigeria’s historical dependence on oil revenues for foreign exchange earnings.
The NEPC’s optimistic outlook suggests the momentum could accelerate further. With sustained policy support, improved infrastructure development, and enhanced access to export financing, Nigeria could surpass previous non-oil export records by the end of 2025.
“Our mission remains to ensure Nigerian products compete favourably anywhere in the world, while contributing to job creation, poverty reduction, and sustainable economic growth,” Ayeni concluded.
The non-oil export surge represents more than economic statistics it embodies Nigeria’s strategic transition towards a more diversified, resilient economy. The growth trajectory demonstrates that with focused policy interventions and private sector dynamism, Nigeria can reduce its oil dependency whilst building sustainable competitive advantages in global markets.
This transformation, if sustained, could position Nigeria as a continental manufacturing hub and agricultural powerhouse, creating the foundation for long-term prosperity and economic stability for Africa’s most populous nation.