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NEPC Urges Nigeria to Boost Non-Oil Exports to EU Amid $21.87bn Trade

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 10th, 2026.

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has called on Nigerian agro-exporters to maximize opportunities in the European Union (EU), noting that non-oil exports make up only 10 percent of total trade with the bloc despite a $21.87 billion trade volume in 2024.

Mrs Nonye Ayeni, NEPC’s Executive Director and CEO, highlighted the gap during the council’s 8th webinar series themed, “EU Regulations for Importation of Nigeria’s Agri-food Products.” She described the situation as a major opportunity for Nigeria to expand its non-oil export footprint.

“The EU remains one of Nigeria’s most strategic trading partners, accounting for about 26 percent of total trade,” Ayeni said, citing key Nigerian exports such as cocoa, oilseeds, agricultural produce, fish, seafood, rubber, leather, and timber.

She added, “Statistics show that Nigeria’s total exports to the EU in 2024 were $21.87 billion, while EU exports to Nigeria totaled $20.2 billion. Non-oil exports represent only about 10 percent of this trade. This is a clear opportunity for Nigeria to grow its presence in the EU market, especially as we work to diversify our economy and enhance value addition in our agricultural sector.”

Ayeni emphasized that global trade is increasingly driven by standards, traceability, and sustainability rather than just price and supply. “By processing agricultural products such as cocoa, sesame, hibiscus, ginger, and spices before export, Nigeria can earn premium prices, generate jobs, promote industrialization, reduce poverty, and contribute significantly to economic diversification,” she said.

The NEPC boss encouraged exporters to comply with EU regulations and leverage the bloc’s large consumer market to strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil trade performance.

This call comes amid growing efforts by Nigerian authorities to shift the economy away from oil dependency and boost revenue through agricultural and manufactured exports.