Economy
Nigeria’s Total Imports in 2017 Drop 8.5% as Exports Rise 59.47%
By Dipo Olowookere
Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have shown that in 2017, Nigeria exported more goods than it imported in the year.
Nigeria is known to rely more on imported products especially from Europe, America and Asia, but since the present administration came into power in 2015, it had done more to change the narrative, making Nigeria export more than it imports.
Last week, chief executive of the state-owned oil firm, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Maikanti Baru, disclosed that Nigeria, one of the oil producing countries in the world, was the most importer of petrol in the globe. Crude oil produced in the country is taken out to be refined and bought to service the nation.
According to the data by the stats office, the total value of goods imported into Nigeria last year was N9.562 trillion, 8.5 percent lower than the 2016 trade import value of N8.817 trillion.
But in the fourth quarter of 2017, the total imports value was N2.1 trillion, was 15.1 percent less than Q3 2017 Figure which was N2.5 trillion and 8.5 percent lower than Q4, 2016, which was N2.3 trillion.
NBS said imported agricultural goods decreased by 1.7 percent in Q4 2017 (N227.4 billion) compared to Q3 2017 (N231.4 billion) but increased by 15.9 percent when compared to Q4, 2016 (N196.2 billion). For full year, 2017, imported agricultural goods increased by 35.09 percent to N886.7 billion from N656.4 billion in 2016.
Raw materials imports in Q4 2017 (N279.4 billion) were 2.1 percent lower than Q3, 2017 value (N285.3 billion), and 2.7 percent lower than Q4 2016 (N287.2 billion). For full year 2017, imported raw materials increased by 19.3 percent to N1.1 trillion from 945.7 billion in 2016.
Solid minerals imports grew by 5.19 percent in Q4 2017 (N15.2 billion) over the Q3, 2017 value (N14.5 billion), and 9.2 percent over Q4 2016 (N13.9 billion). For full year 2017, imported solid minerals increased by 372.2 percent to N235.1 billion from N49.7 billion in 2016.
Energy goods imports grew significantly by 950 percent in Q4 2017 (N138.1 million), higher than Q3, 2017 value (N13.15 million), and 57176 percent over Q4 2016 (N0.24 million). For full year 2017, imported energy goods increased to N187.17 million from N8.07 million in 2016.
Manufactured goods imports declined in Q4 2017 by 0.28 percent (N1.2 trillion) in comparison to Q3 2017 (N1.2 trillion), but grew by 10 percent in comparison to Q4 2016 (N1.1 trillion). For full year 2017, imported manufactured products decreased by 0.06 percent to N4.6 trillion from N4.7 trillion in 2016.
Other oil products imports were 48.86 percent lower in value in Q4 2017 than Q3 2017, and 46.5 percent lower than the value recorded in Q4 2016 and for full year 2017, other oil product imports increased by 5.93 percent over 2016.
However, the total value of export stood at N3.9 trillion in Q4 2017, growing by 9.35 percent over Q3 2017, and by 31.27 percent over Q4 2016. For full year 2017, total exports of N13.6 trillion were 59.47 percent higher than for 2016 with a value of N8.5 trillion.
Agricultural goods exports grew in value by 54.9 percent in Q4 2017 (N44.7 billion) in comparison to Q3 2017 (N28.8 billion), and by 170.9 percent in comparison to Q4 2016 (N16.5 billion). For full year 2017, agriculture exports grew 180.7 percent (N170.4 billion) above the value in 2016 (N60.7 billion).
Raw material exports in Q4 2017 (N37.8 billion) were 43.2 percent more in value than Q3, 2017 (N26.4 billion) and 71.7 percent more than Q4, 2016 (N22 billion). For full year 2017, raw material exports grew 154.2 percent (N112.9 billion) above the value in 2016 (N44.4 billion).
Solid minerals exports in Q4 2017 grew by 55 percent in value when compared to Q3 2017, and by 473.5 percent in value when compared to same period last year Q4 2016. For full year 2017, solid minerals exports grew 565 percent (N77.2 billion) above the value in 2016 (N11.6 billion).
Manufactured goods exports in Q4, 2017 (N55.3 billion) were 28.1 percent more than the value attained in Q3, 2017 (N43.2 billion) but declined by 18.03 percent in comparison to Q4 2016 (N67.5 billion). For full year 2017, exports of manufactured goods grew 26.8 percent (N232.05 billion) above the value in 2016 (N182.9 billion).
Crude Oil exports in Q4 2017 were 9.51 percent more than the value recorded in Q3 2017 and 34.2 percent higher than Q4, 2016. For full year 2017, crude oil exports grew 57.6 percent above the value in 2016.
Other oil products exports increased by 0.45 percent over Q3 2017 and by 9.3 percent over the same period last year (Q4 2016). For full year 2017, exports of other oil products grew 57.75 percent above the value in 2016.
The stats office said total trade recorded for Q4 2017 was N6 trillion which represented a decline of 0.7 percent over the Q3 2017, and an increase of 13.9 percent over the same period last year Q4 2016). For full year 2017, total trade was N23.2 trillion which is 33.5 percent higher when compared to the value in 2016 of N17.4 trillion.
Trade balance, accordingly, stood at a surplus of N1.8 trillion in Q4 2017 compared to the surplus of N1.1 trillion recorded in the preceding quarter and the surplus of N671.30 billion in the corresponding quarter last year. For full year 2017, trade balance stood at N4 trillion compared to a negative trade balance of -N290.1 billion in 2016.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions has called for stronger collaboration among financial sector regulators and other stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s financial system and support sustainable economic growth.
The committee made the call during an expanded stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos, attended by the leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), among other industry stakeholders and financial experts.
Chairman of the committee, Mr Adetokunbo Abiru (Lagos East), who was represented by Mr Osita Izunaso (Imo West), said stronger legislative reforms and regulatory collaboration were necessary to reposition Nigeria’s financial architecture for long-term economic prosperity.
Mr Abiru said the financial sector remained critical to investment, job creation, business expansion and macroeconomic stability, stressing that its ability to mobilise savings, channel credit to productive sectors, facilitate investment and manage risks was fundamental to sustainable economic growth.
He said the current economic realities required closer collaboration between the legislature and financial regulators, noting that challenges confronting the sector were interconnected and could not be effectively addressed through isolated interventions.
The lawmaker identified inflationary pressures, global economic uncertainties, cybersecurity threats, low insurance penetration and the need to diversify Nigeria’s export base as some of the challenges requiring coordinated policy responses.
He said the engagement was aimed at generating practical solutions to strengthen the country’s financial architecture and support sustainable economic growth.
According to him, monetary policy, financial safety nets, banking institutions, the insurance industry and export finance were interdependent components of a stable financial system and must therefore be strengthened collectively.
The Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, said the Nigeria Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025 had contributed significantly to stabilising and repositioning the insurance sector.
Mr Omosehin disclosed that 43 insurance companies had successfully recapitalised, describing the development as a major milestone for the industry.
He commended Abiru and members of the committee for their role in advancing insurance sector reforms and urged the House of Representatives to expedite action on the relevant insurance reform bill to enable it to receive presidential assent and become operational.
Representatives of the CBN Governor and the Managing Directors of AMCON, NEXIM and NDIC also commended the Senate committee for its oversight and legislative support, saying its interventions had strengthened the agencies’ capacity to discharge their statutory mandates.
The engagement, held under the theme, Strengthening Financial System Architecture for Sustainable Economic Growth and Stability in Nigeria, also featured presentations by Professor Uche Uwaleke, President of Capital Market Academics of Nigeria (CMAN); Professor Biodun Adedipe, Chief Consultant, B. Adedipe Associates Limited; and Dr Tilewa Adebajo, Chief Executive Officer of CFG Advisory.
The experts presented policy recommendations on key issues affecting Nigeria’s financial system, with emphasis on financial stability, investment and sustainable economic growth.
Mr Abiru said the Senate would continue to engage financial regulators and other stakeholders to deepen financial inclusion, strengthen public confidence in financial institutions and improve regulatory effectiveness.
He said the broader objective was to position Nigeria’s financial system to compete more effectively in the global economy while remaining resilient and responsive to the country’s economic transformation agenda.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The first six months of 2026 were not too good for Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc, as it suffered an N8.7 billion loss compared with the N2.1 billion net profit it recorded in the same period of 2025.
This occurred as the company posted a 10.91 per cent decline in earnings between January and June 2026, according to its financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2026.
Analysis of the results showed that the revenue generated in the period under review stood at N14.7 billion versus the N16.5 billion printed in the corresponding period of last year.
Business Post observed that the revenue was negatively impacted by a decline in earnings from helicopter charter and helicopter/airplane contract.
Further analysis of the financial results indicated that operating profit went down by 22.34 per cent to N7.3 billion from N9.4 billion, with administrative expenses jumping to N7.9 billion from N4.7 billion.
But Caverton believes things will get better, noting that the clearest driver of the recovery is Caverton Marine.
Through its relationship with Stena Bulk, one of the world’s leading tanker operators, the organisation now participates in three Suezmax tankers trading a rare source of foreign-currency revenue for a Nigerian-listed company.
It noted that the relationship is being deepened through Unity Shipping Worldwide, a joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Stena Bulk that pairs the state-owned oil firm’s national position and Stena Bulk’s fleet with Caverton’s indigenous operating platform
Closer to home, the firm’s OMIBUS platform, developed with Shanghai-based electric-propulsion OEM Explomar, is bringing battery-electric passenger ferries to Lagos waterways. A prototype is already in service, and Caverton holds a firm order from Lagos State for ten vessels, an early-mover position in clean inland-water transport that the group believes can be replicated across other states as the fleet enters service and ferry operations mature into steady, recurring revenue.
In aviation, the institution said the recovery is anchored on its partnership with NHV, a Belgium-based international helicopter operator, with the restructuring of charter operations targeted for the second half of 2026.
“The first half of the year tested us, but the direction of travel is now visible in the numbers.
“Quarter on quarter, we are working to build up our revenue to narrow losses. Our marine business units, from international tankers to electric ferries, are scaling.
“Meanwhile, our aviation relaunch is on track for the second half, and our cost base is tighter than it has been in years. There is distance still to travel, but Caverton is moving from stabilisation to recovery, and we intend to finish 2026 with that momentum intact,” the chief executive of Caverton, Mr Olabode Makanjuola, stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) have issued new guidelines clarifying the taxation of virtual assets in Nigeria.
The guidelines provide an administrative framework for the taxation of virtual assets and specify the tax obligations of individuals and businesses operating in the sector.
According to a public notice issued by the two agencies, the framework covers registration, reporting and record-keeping requirements, valuation principles and the tax treatment of virtual asset transactions.
It applies to taxpayers, Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplace operators, tax practitioners and other persons engaged in virtual asset-related activities.
The NRS and JRB said the guidelines were developed in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025.
The two bodies said the release was aimed at providing clarity, certainty and consistency in the administration of Nigeria’s tax laws as the country’s virtual asset ecosystem continues to evolve.
The agencies added that the framework would promote voluntary compliance, enhance transparency and support the development of a fair and efficient tax system for digital asset transactions.
They urged all affected taxpayers and stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the guidelines and ensure compliance with the applicable tax obligations.
The guidelines are available on the official websites of the two agencies.
