Nigeria’s non-oil exports rose by 21 percent in 2025, President Bola Tinubu said on Friday, as the government intensifies efforts to reduce reliance on crude oil and expand industrial and agricultural production.
In a Democracy Day address, Tinubu said more than 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises had been certified for export under government-backed programmes aimed at improving access to international markets and strengthening non-oil trade.
He said the growth reflected ongoing reforms and improved investor confidence since 2023, alongside rising global demand for key Nigerian commodities such as cocoa, fertiliser (urea) and cashew.
“The next phase is about accelerating growth and ensuring the benefits are felt in every home, every community, and every region,” the president said.
According to official trade data cited in government statements, Nigeria exported 281 different non-oil products in 2025, with major destinations including the Netherlands, Brazil, India, Belgium and the United States.
Authorities say the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has also played a role in boosting exports by improving regional market access and reducing tariff barriers across Africa.
Tinubu said infrastructure development remains central to the country’s diversification strategy, arguing that improved transport and logistics networks are helping connect producers to domestic and international markets.
He also announced that the National Agricultural Development Fund is deploying 10,000 tractors over five years as part of a broader plan to modernise agriculture, improve productivity and expand rural employment.
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Across the country, the government has prioritised agricultural mechanisation and value-chain development in an effort to increase food production and reduce import dependence.
Tinubu said rising federation revenues have strengthened the fiscal positions of federal, state and local governments, enabling increased spending on infrastructure, education, healthcare and security.
“Across the country, infrastructure projects are connecting producers to markets and creating opportunities for enterprise and employment,” he said.
The administration has repeatedly framed economic reforms introduced since 2023 as necessary to restore macroeconomic stability and attract investment into key sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transport and technology.
Officials say these reforms have helped stabilise public finances and improve Nigeria’s external position, although households continue to face high inflation and cost-of-living pressures.
Analysts note that while non-oil export growth signals progress in diversification efforts, Nigeria remains heavily dependent on oil revenues for foreign exchange earnings and fiscal stability.
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The expansion of non-oil exports is also being driven by stronger participation from SMEs, which government agencies say are increasingly integrating into export value chains through training, certification and trade facilitation programmes.
Tinubu said democracy must translate into tangible economic gains for citizens, particularly farmers, entrepreneurs and workers.
“Democracy must be felt in the quality of people’s lives,” he said, adding that the government’s focus going forward will be on accelerating inclusive growth.
Despite the positive export figures, economists caution that sustaining momentum will depend on improving infrastructure, access to finance and addressing structural bottlenecks such as logistics costs, energy supply constraints and foreign exchange volatility.
The government says it will continue to prioritise export-led growth as part of its long-term strategy to reposition Nigeria as a more diversified and competitive economy in global trade.
