Figures cited by Vanguard show that Nigeria’s non-oil exports to the European Union currently account for a mere 10% of the total $21.87 billion trade volume recorded with the bloc. The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has expressed concern over this disparity, urging local agro-exporters to adopt stricter international standards to penetrate the EU’s 400 million-strong consumer market.
The Council noted that while the trade volume is high, it remains heavily dominated by petroleum products. To bridge this gap, the NEPC is pushing for improved traceability and adherence to sustainable principles among Nigerian farmers and manufacturers.
Validation: Daily Trust and Premium Times reported on the trade imbalance. Daily Trust quoted the NEPC as saying, “Global trade is no longer driven by price but by standards,” while Premium Times noted that “Nigeria is missing out on billions in non-oil revenue from Europe.”
Echotitbits take: This is a wake-up call for the “Export 30” initiative. Without a drastic improvement in packaging and phytosanitary standards, Nigeria will remain a “petro-dependent” trader even in its most lucrative bilateral relationships.
Source: Vanguard – https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/03/nigerias-non-oil-exports-to-eu-lag-at-10-despite-21-87bn-trade-nepc/, March 10, 2026
Photo credit: Vanguard
