Nigeria’s Non-Oil Exports Hit $1.791bn in Q1 2025 — NEPC
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has learnt that Nigeria’s non-oil exports rose to $1.791 billion in the first quarter of 2025, a development the agency believes signals a stronger outlook for the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
This was obtained by PulseNets during a one-day sensitisation programme organised for sesame seed farmers on Thursday in Dutse, Jigawa State. The workshop carried the theme:
“A Tactical Involvement for Enhancing the Production Capacity of Sesame Seed in Jigawa State.”
NEPC’s Chief Executive Officer, Nonye Ayeni, represented by Chief Trade Promotion Officer, Okany Chika Sylvia, reported that the figure marks a 24.75 per cent growth compared to the 19.59 per cent recorded in Q1 2024.
She told PulseNets that sesame seed has consistently proven vital to Nigeria’s export drive.
“In 2024, sesame ranked third among the top 20 export commodities, with about 337,825 metric tonnes, representing 4.63 per cent of the total exports,” Ms Ayeni noted.
She explained further:
“Nigeria can capture a significant portion of the foreign exchange inflows in the global sesame seed market if we scale up production and improve yields.”
Challenges and Safety Concerns
Speaking during her presentation, Ms Ayeni revealed that Nigeria’s sesame seed exports to Japan between 2019 and 2021 had faced serious setbacks due to pesticide residue and salmonella contamination.
“The Japan Oil and Fat Importers and Exporters Association raised this issue in August 2022 after Japanese authorities confirmed residue levels almost twice the acceptable limit,” she said.
She highlighted that poor compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary rules, cross-contamination during handling, and inadequate exporter documentation remain critical obstacles.
To address these, she stressed the need for farm-to-market interventions:
“Solving contamination challenges at the source, promoting Good Agricultural Practices, introducing technology-enabled traceability, and tackling logistics and packaging hurdles will greatly reduce rejections.”
Ayeni added that quality testing, adoption of modern farming technology, awareness campaigns, and proper storage systems were equally vital. She also advocated the creation of clusters of sesame producers, assuring that the council would partner with stakeholders to ensure “zero rejection of Nigeria’s agricultural exports, especially sesame seed.”
“Through deliberate engagement and partnerships, Nigeria’s sesame exports will not just grow but also secure a stronger position in international markets,” she maintained.
Stakeholders React
NEPC’s Jigawa Coordinator, Abdulkadir Aliyu, spoke to PulseNets on the purpose of the forum, stating that it was designed to enhance Nigeria’s sesame seed output and expand its forex contributions.
“This forum gives us an opportunity to share knowledge and prepare our farmers to fully tap into global demand,” he remarked.
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Also speaking, Balaraba Ibrahim, one of the participants, called for the creation of aggregation centres in Jigawa to process sesame seed before export. She told PulseNets that farmers face exploitation due to their inability to process the commodity.
“This forces many to sell at cheaper prices, undermining their labour and profit margins,” she lamented.
Another participant, Magaji Rabi’u, encouraged local farmers and residents to take advantage of NEPC’s export windows, stressing that sesame cultivation could significantly uplift the state’s economy.
