Nigeria’s non-oil exports to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) fell by 13.08 per cent in 2025, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has reported, in a development linked to shifting regional trade dynamics.
The decline was revealed by NEPC Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Nonye Ayeni during the council’s annual progress report and 2026 non-oil export outlook briefing in Abuja. Ayeni attributed the drop largely to the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the ECOWAS bloc, saying their exit disrupted established trade routes and weakened Nigeria’s export flows within the sub-region.
The three Sahel countries formally announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024, citing what they described as excessive sanctions, political interference, and the bloc’s failure to support them in addressing security challenges. They were previously suspended by ECOWAS and hit with economic and diplomatic sanctions after military coups between 2020 and 2023 delayed their return to civilian rule.
Their exit disrupted long-standing trade, transit and payment arrangements within West Africa, especially affecting Nigeria’s access to key overland corridors and markets for agricultural produce, manufactured goods and re-exported commodities.
Trade Figures Show Sub-Regional Decline
Ayeni said Nigeria exported non-oil products valued at $271.26 million to 11 ECOWAS member countries in 2025, compared with $312.08 million recorded in 2024. The exports, with a combined volume of 1.23 million metric tonnes, accounted for 4.46 per cent of Nigeria’s total non-oil export value.
“Within the African market, Nigeria exported non-oil products to 11 ECOWAS member countries. These exports, totalling 1,234,177.01 metric tons and amounting to $271.255 million, constituted 4.46 per cent of the total export value,” Ayeni said. “This is a decrease of 13.08 per cent compared to the sum of $312.080 million for the year 2024. This difference is due to the exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the ECOWAS committee.”
Nigeria Still Gains Traction in West Africa
Despite the decline, Ayeni said Nigeria’s non-oil products continued to gain market traction across West Africa, with Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire emerging among the country’s top global destination markets. Ghana ranked 13th, while Côte d’Ivoire placed 20th among the top 20 importing countries of Nigerian non-oil products in 2025.
Nigeria Expands Export Reach Across Africa
Beyond ECOWAS, Nigeria expanded its export footprint across the continent, shipping non-oil products to 25 other African countries outside the sub-region. These exports, totalling 967,397.94 metric tonnes and valued at $206.94 million, represented 3.40 per cent of total non-oil export earnings.
In all, Nigeria’s non-oil exports reached 36 African countries in 2025, highlighting the continent’s growing importance as a destination for Nigerian products, particularly agricultural commodities, processed goods and solid minerals.
“Nigeria also exported to 25 other African countries outside ECOWAS, bringing the total export destinations in Africa to 36. The value of these exports, totalling 967,397.94 metric tons and $206.941 million, represented 3.40 per cent of the total non-oil export value,” Ayeni said.
AfCFTA Seen as Key to Boosting Trade
Ayeni also underscored the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in boosting intra-African trade, noting that it is projected to become the world’s largest free trade area by the number of participating countries. She said the NEPC, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and other stakeholders, is intensifying efforts to position Nigeria as a major export hub under the AfCFTA framework.
“These are evidence to show that non-oil export is increasing, and all stakeholders are taking advantage of the potential and opportunities inherent in the sector,” she said. “AfCFTA holds the key to intra-African trade as it promises to be the largest free trade area in the world… connecting the 54 countries in Africa with over 1.3 billion people.”
Ayeni added that the NEPC is working hard to ensure that Nigeria becomes a hub and takes its position as the “Giant of Africa.”
Non-Oil Exports Hit Record High
The ECOWAS and broader African trade performance formed part of a wider non-oil export success story in 2025, as Nigeria’s non-oil exports rose to an all-time high of $6.1 billion — the strongest performance since the NEPC was established nearly 50 years ago.
Ayeni announced this record at the briefing, underscoring the continued momentum in Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.