Business
Nigeria Non-Oil Exports Hit Historic $6.1bn in 2025
Nigeria non-oil exports rose to a record $6.1bn in 2025, led by cocoa and fertilisers, reflecting stronger trade, diversification, and market reach
Nigeria’s non-oil export sector reached a historic high of $6.1bn in 2025, marking the strongest performance since the establishment of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) nearly five decades ago.
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The figure represents an 11.5 per cent year-on-year increase from $5.4bn in 2024, reflecting renewed momentum in the country’s push to diversify its economy away from crude oil dependence.
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, disclosed the figures on Monday in Abuja during the council’s annual progress report and 2026 non-oil export outlook briefing.
She noted that data from pre-shipment inspection agencies confirmed the milestone, describing the achievement as a testament to improved market access, compliance, and product diversification.
Cocoa beans dominated Nigeria’s export basket in 2025, generating $1.99bn and accounting for nearly 33 per cent of total non-oil export earnings.
Urea fertiliser followed with $1.29bn in value, while cashew nuts, sesame seeds, and gold dore contributed $457m, $300m, and $229m respectively.
Processed products such as cocoa liquor and cashew kernels highlighted the sector’s gradual shift towards value addition.
Total export volumes rose to 8.02 million metric tonnes, up from 7.29 million in 2024, with products reaching 120 countries worldwide.
The Netherlands was the largest destination by value at $1.07bn, followed by Brazil and India with $630m and $464m respectively.
Ayeni highlighted that exports to the Netherlands grew by 32.46 per cent, driven largely by cocoa beans, cocoa butter, and sesame seeds.
Despite the strong performance, Ayeni cautioned that significant trade still occurs informally across Nigeria’s land borders, and the council is working to incorporate such activity into official records to better support exporters.
Top export companies included Indorama Eleme Fertiliser & Chemical Limited, Dangote Fertiliser Limited, and Starlink Global and Ideal Ltd, which accounted for 13.13 per cent, 8.41 per cent, and 8.06 per cent of total non-oil exports.
Banks actively facilitating export transactions included Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, and First Bank of Nigeria.
Ayeni further highlighted NEPC’s capacity-building efforts, noting that 728 training programmes reached over 96,000 participants across 36 states in 2025.
The council also funded international certifications for 210 SMEs, bringing the total certified exporters close to 700, while another 567 are undergoing certification.
Looking ahead, NEPC projects sustained growth in 2026, driven by enhanced capacity building, value addition, market diversification, and the mainstreaming of informal trade.
Also read: CBN Forecasts Stronger Growth as Nigeria Stabilises Economy
Strategic trade agreements, such as the Nigeria United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership, are expected to further boost non-oil export revenues.
The Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) has dismissed allegations that it appropriated the Niger Delta Economic & Investment Summit (NDEIS) brand, insisting it lawfully obtained trademark acceptance for the name and will proceed with its 2026 summit as scheduled.
In a statement issued on September 12, 2026, the chamber described claims by Kunle Nwiwa Junior as “cheap blackmail, misleading, mischievous and a misrepresentation of the facts,” maintaining that it independently developed the summit and followed all required regulatory procedures.
According to NDCCITMA, it applied for and received a Trademark Acceptance Letter for the name Niger Delta Economic & Investment Summit (NDEIS) in August 2025 under File No. NG/TM/O/2025/387284.
The chamber said the chronology of events contradicts allegations that it copied another party’s application, arguing that its trademark acceptance predated the period during which Nwiwa’s own application was reportedly still pending before the relevant authorities.
“Economic Summit” is a generic expression
NDCCITMA further argued that the phrase “Economic Summit” is a generic description widely used for conferences that bring together governments, investors, businesses, development institutions and other stakeholders to discuss investment and economic development.
The chamber maintained that while concepts may be widely used, legal protection only arises from recognised intellectual property rights, including duly registered trademarks and other enforceable proprietary interests.
It therefore rejected suggestions that any individual or organisation has exclusive ownership of the broader concept of an economic summit.
Court grants interim injunction
Addressing reports that the summit had been halted, NDCCITMA said the dispute is already before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt and that there is no court order restraining the event.
The chamber disclosed that in Suit No. FHC/PHC/CS/57/2026, Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam granted an interim injunction restraining the defendants—Kunle Nwiwa Junior and Keneva Consult Ltd.—from interfering with the planned summit.
According to NDCCITMA, the court also directed the defendants to remove publications, notices, petitions, social media posts and other statements allegedly considered damaging to the chamber’s name, integrity and reputation pending the hearing of its motion for interlocutory injunction.
The matter has been adjourned until September 22, 2026 for further hearing.
Chamber rejects ₦500 million demand claim
NDCCITMA also alleged that it had received a demand from Nwiwa Junior requesting ₦500 million as a condition for abandoning his claims over the summit.
The chamber said the demand was rejected, adding that it subsequently petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over what it described as repeated harassment and threats directed at its officials.
It said the petition sought police intervention, including inviting the complainant for questioning and caution where necessary.
Summit opens September 15
Despite the legal dispute, NDCCITMA reaffirmed that the 2026 Niger Delta Economic & Investment Summit will hold from September 15 to 17, 2026, at the Obi Wali Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The summit will be held under the theme “Driving Investment, Innovation & Industrial Growth in the Niger Delta” and is expected to bring together policymakers, investors, business leaders, development partners and industry stakeholders to discuss economic transformation across the region.
The chamber said it remains committed to promoting commerce, industry, trade, mining, agriculture and sustainable economic development throughout the Niger Delta while allowing the courts to determine all outstanding legal issues.
Tinubu Niger Delta summit opens in Port Harcourt as investors and policymakers gather to drive investment, innovation and industrial growth
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