By Reloaded News Desk

Nigeria’s exports to other African countries rose to ₦10.72 trillion in the first half of 2026, more than double the ₦4.82 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics’ foreign trade reports for the first two quarters of 2026 show that exports to Africa increased by 122.26 per cent in naira terms.

However, the increase was driven overwhelmingly by petroleum and related products.

Crude petroleum, refined fuels, gas products, electricity and urea accounted for about 94.75 per cent of Nigeria’s exports to Africa during the period, according to an analysis of the NBS data.

The value of those products was estimated at about ₦10.15 trillion.

The figures also show that the value of identifiable non-oil exports among major product lines fell from about ₦309.46 billion in the first half of 2025 to ₦296.61 billion in the first half of 2026.

Economists quoted in the report cautioned against interpreting the sharp rise in naira-denominated exports as evidence of a similar increase in real export earnings, particularly because of changes in the value of the naira.

The emergence of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a major exporter of refined petroleum products has also contributed to the increase in Nigeria’s trade with other African countries.

In the second quarter alone, Nigeria’s exports to Africa were valued at ₦6.65 trillion, with Togo, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Egypt accounting for the largest shares among destination countries.

The data highlights both the growing scale of Nigeria’s intra-African trade and the country’s continued dependence on petroleum-related products.