Manufacturers decry low export share despite N85.13trn trade boom
Nigerian Manufacturers Call for Reforms to Boost Export Competitiveness
By Yinka Kolawole
Manufacturers in Nigeria are expressing concern over the ongoing low contribution of manufactured goods to the nation’s export portfolio, despite a notable increase in overall exports in 2025. Industry leaders warn that persistent structural bottlenecks continue to hinder Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global market.
Exporters affiliated with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Promotion Group (MANEG) recently highlighted that while Nigeria’s total export value rose by 9.93 percent to N85.13 trillion in 2025, manufactured exports remained at N2.5 trillion, accounting for less than three percent of the total. This trend mirrors that of 2024, when total exports surged by 115 percent year-on-year to N77.44 trillion, with manufactured exports at N2.28 trillion.
Chairman of MANEG, Odiri Erewa-Meggison, made the remarks during the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Exporters Development Programme in Lagos. She emphasized the urgent need for practical reforms to address fundamental challenges within Nigeria’s export ecosystem.
Erewa-Meggison noted that the issue is not a lack of market access but rather the ineffective execution of trade strategies. “Nigeria does not have a market access problem; we have an execution problem,” she said. She pointed out that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a $3.4 trillion opportunity across 1.3 billion people, but without adequate preparation, such access serves little value.
The chairman further revealed that over 70 percent of Nigerian food exports face rejection in international markets, while about 30 percent of manufactured goods fail due to insufficient packaging, labeling, traceability, and certification. These high rejection rates reflect inadequate quality assurance systems, poor logistics, and limited technical expertise across the export value chain.
Many manufacturers, Erewa-Meggison stated, are currently operating below capacity, not due to a lack of ambition, but because of limited access to technical support for export documentation, utilization of AfCFTA tariff benefits, and engagement with global buyers.
To combat these challenges, she proposed reforms focused on four critical areas: improved quality standards, efficient logistics systems, access to export financing, and effective domestication of AfCFTA frameworks.
While calling for government support in creating a conducive business environment, Erewa-Meggison urged manufacturers to take greater responsibility for export readiness by adhering to international standards, forming strategic partnerships, and leveraging available trade platforms.
She reaffirmed MANEG’s commitment to promoting value-added manufacturing as a sustainable approach to increasing Nigeria’s share of global trade and enhancing foreign exchange earnings.
