Nigeria’s non-oil export sector grew in 2023, with the country exporting 6.685 million metric tonnes of non-oil products valued at $4.518 billion, a 28.04 per cent increase from the previous year.
The Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, disclosed this in Lagos, at a recognition dinner for top performing non-oil export companies on Sunday night, October 20.
Ayeni noted that 273 distinct non-oil products were exported in 2023, ranging from semi-processed goods to raw agricultural commodities.
She said
: “Key exports included urea, cocoa beans, sesame seeds, soybeans, gold dore, cashew nuts, aluminum ingots, and hibiscus flowers.
“These products have positioned Nigeria as a competitive player in global markets, bolstering foreign exchange inflows and contributing to the stabilization of the naira.”
She commended the efforts of the exporters, stating “your contributions underscore Nigeria’s immense potential beyond oil, and serve as an inspiration to other businesses to tap into opportunities in the non-oil sector.”
“We plan to prioritize 20 key products, support 10 top exporters per product, and target five international markets,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, said: “We have signed trade agreements with several countries, including the UK, the US, China, and India, to open up more market access for our exporters.
“We are working to remove barriers for exporters, as President Tinubu has emphasized. Our goal is to attract foreign investment, expand export capacity, and address any challenges exporters may face.”