AfCFTA Pays Off: Nigeria’s Regional Trade Surge Highlights Economic Shift

Nigeria’s non-oil exports are soaring, with 663 million metric tons shipped to ECOWAS nations in the first half of 2025—a sharp rise from 2024. The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) revealed the figures, noting an additional 488 million metric tons worth $83.5 million were exported to 21 other African countries. NEPC chief Nonye Ayeni credited the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for the growth, highlighting the framework’s importance in boosting regional trade. Top exporters like Indorama Eleme (11.92%) and Starlink Global (8.82%) led the charge. Seaports handled 94% of exports, underscoring their importance to logistics. According to Ayeni, the growth reflects Nigeria’s push to diversify its economy through non-oil exports.

Nairametrics