Nigeria’s non-oil exports climbed to a record $6.1 billion in 2025, underscoring steady progress in the country’s drive to diversify away from oil dependence.

The figure represents an 11.5 per cent increase from the $5.4 billion recorded in 2024 and is the highest non-oil export value since the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) was established nearly five decades ago.

Speaking at the council’s annual progress report and 2026 export outlook briefing in Abuja, NEPC’s Executive Director and CEO, Nonye Ayeni, said the growth was driven by higher export volumes and wider market access for Nigerian products.

Total non-oil export volume rose to 8.02 million metric tonnes in 2025, up from 7.29 million metric tonnes the previous year. Nigeria exported 281 non-oil products across agriculture, processed goods, and solid minerals, reflecting increased value addition and broader participation in global trade.

The performance aligns with data from the National Bureau of Statistics, which showed non-oil exports hitting N9.2 trillion in the first nine months of 2025, a 48 per cent rise year-on-year, partly boosted by the impact of the 2023 naira devaluation.

Despite the gains, the NEPC noted that a significant share of non-oil trade still occurs informally across land borders, limiting the sector’s full potential.

Culled from: Nairametrics