Nigeria recorded a boost in trade with other African nations in the first half of the year amid the country’s regional economic diplomacy and logistics reforms.
Official data presented by the Nigeria Customs Service shows that trade volumes between Nigeria and other African markets expanded by 14% year-on-year in the first six months of 2025.
The improvement underscores renewed effort to strengthen commercial cooperation and reduce longstanding trade barriers across the continent.
Africa-focused exports accounted for a major portion of the expansion during the period, supported by increased demand within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and broader intra-African value chains.
Government officials say strategic policy actions are beginning to yield positive results for Nigerian producers and logistics operators who rely on regional market access for growth.
Authorities have introduced new customs automation systems and coordination mechanisms aimed at accelerating cargo clearance and eliminating structural delays at land borders.
The reforms are backed by improved transport corridors connecting Nigeria to neighbouring economies, enabling smoother movement of goods and reducing bottlenecks that previously hindered cross-border flows.
Trade analysts note that Nigeria is increasingly positioning itself as a core facilitator of intra-African commerce, leveraging its industrial base and growing export capabilities to supply regional manufacturing and consumer markets.
Beyond operational reforms, Nigeria is advancing commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to improve competitiveness and drive export expansion.
Recent initiatives like market access concessions, enhanced border infrastructure, and new airfreight logistics routes linking East and West Africa have lowered costs for exporters and broadened trade participation for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Government officials remain confident that momentum will strengthen in the second half of the year as additional efficiency measures are rolled out and new bilateral commercial agreements take effect.
Economic stakeholders are also urging for faster implementation of harmonized regional standards that would further unlock market potential for Nigerian-made goods.
With intra-African trade still below its global peers, Nigeria’s recent performance signals fresh capacity for the continent to capture more value within its own borders.
Business leaders say sustained policy consistency and infrastructure investment will be critical in turning the current gains into long-term economic transformation.