Nigeria records $23bn in capital importation and N12.36tn in non-oil exports as government moves to help businesses overcome market access barriers and attract productive investment…..
The Federal Government has introduced new trade intelligence tools aimed at helping Nigerian businesses identify international market opportunities, attract investment and improve the competitiveness of locally produced goods as the country pursues its ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, announced the initiative in Abuja, explaining that the tools would provide exporters and investors with reliable market information to support business decisions, navigate international trade requirements and expand commercial opportunities.
She said the government was working to ensure that recent economic gains translated into stronger domestic industries, increased exports, productive investments and employment growth.
Oduwole disclosed that capital importation into Nigeria had risen from approximately $3.9 billion in 2023 to more than $23 billion in 2025, while non-oil exports reached a record N12.36 trillion.
She added that Nigerian products had gained access to more than 120 countries, while intra-African trade expanded by 21 per cent in 2025, creating further opportunities for local businesses to reach customers across the continent.
Despite the progress, the minister acknowledged that many Nigerian businesses continued to struggle with high production costs, inadequate access to financing, logistical challenges and complicated trade procedures that limit their ability to compete internationally.
According to her, the new tools are designed to address some of these obstacles by helping businesses identify viable export destinations, understand applicable tariffs and entry conditions, and obtain essential market information before committing resources to international transactions.
The initiative is also expected to help investors identify commercial opportunities and make better-informed decisions about sectors with potential for growth.
Oduwole identified upcoming continental trade events as important opportunities for Nigerian businesses to establish partnerships, attract buyers and expand their presence in regional and international markets.
Among them are CANEX Weekend 2026 and the Intra-African Trade Fair 2027, which are expected to connect businesses with potential investors, distributors and international customers.
The minister announced that the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment planned to formally launch its Trade Portal during CANEX Weekend, scheduled for November 5 to 8, 2026.
The platform is expected to provide exporters with market intelligence and practical information to help them navigate foreign markets and turn business contacts into completed commercial transactions.
The government hopes the initiative will strengthen the connection between trade policy and actual business performance, particularly by helping small and medium-sized enterprises identify opportunities beyond Nigeria’s domestic market.
Improving access to reliable market information could also help businesses reduce uncertainty when assessing foreign demand, pricing their products and meeting the regulatory requirements of destination countries.
Meanwhile, President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Jani Ibrahim, urged the private sector to increase investment in value-added exports, competitive manufacturing and priority export industries.
Ibrahim said expanding domestic processing and production would improve the international competitiveness of Nigerian goods, create employment and ensure the country captures greater economic value from its resources.
He stressed that strengthening local industries would be essential to taking advantage of opportunities emerging from regional integration and growing demand across international markets.
His position underscores the importance of pairing improved trade intelligence with investment in production capacity, infrastructure and quality standards if Nigerian businesses are to compete effectively abroad.
The government’s latest initiative comes amid efforts to diversify the economy, reduce dependence on crude oil earnings and increase the contribution of non-oil sectors to national growth.
While the reported increases in capital importation and non-oil exports point to progress, sustaining the momentum will depend on converting investment inflows into productive capacity and ensuring more Nigerian businesses can consistently meet international market requirements.
With the planned Trade Portal launch approaching, attention will turn to how effectively the platform helps businesses secure buyers, complete export transactions and translate market access into higher revenues and jobs.
