Economy
Nigerian Yams Not Rejected Abroad—Exporters
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The exporters of yam to the United Kingdom and the United States have disputed the reports, initially aired by the Africa Independent Television (AIT), purporting that the yams exported after the official flag-off ceremony on June 29, 2017 were rejected at their export destinations.
The symbolic event, done at the Lilypond Container Terminal in Lagos by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbeh, meant to boost the morale of Nigerian exporters and make a bold statement to the global marketplace, has drawn widespread criticisms on various media platforms.
A statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr Olukayode Oyeleye, stated that the concerned exporters and other prospective exporters have expressed worries about the potential impact of the negative publicity on their prospects at the export market in the wake of federal government’s initiative on diversification of the economy through agricultural produce export.
Most commentators and analysts in the mainstream and social media have retailed the negative aspect of the laudable initiative and have played up the wrong versions of the export story. Discussions with the exporters have since shown the prevailing storyline as inappropriate and misleading.
First, the exporters to the UK and US have emphatically said that their consignments were successfully cleared at the ports and delivered them to their various warehouses. They said, although some cases of tuber spoilage were reported in both cases, these were separated from the good ones, and the good ones were distributed to the buyers.
The exporters noted that Ghana, which has been exporting yams for a while, routinely records cases of spoilage, without making any public issues therefrom; and their yams don’t get rejected as a result.
Mr Michael Adedipe of ADES UK Foods and Drinks for the UK, whose warehouse was visited by AIT, has deplored the AIT report and other subsequent commentaries about rejection of his yams by the UK authorities.
Mr Adedipe has said emphatically that the consignment was not rejected; “It was cleared.”
According to Mr Adedipe, who confirmed that he spoke to AIT, “I’ve watched the (TV) programme which lasted for about two hours. All the positive stuff removed. We that decide to venture in this project are aware of the risks involved because, this fresh produce … we’ll expect five or 10 percent damages. I don’t know why they said the product got rejected. I’ve sent my release note. I’ve sent video of loading. I’ve sent every documentation to say that there is no issue like that at all.”
On the spoilage of yam, Mr Adedipe explained that “the failure has nothing to do with the Ministry of Agriculture, but the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). That’s where I see the failure.”
He expressed disgust at the mishandling of his comments by the AIT reporter, saying: “I told him, he is aware of it. He knew about the delay, I told him about all the consignment. He knew every single thing that happened. But what he did the most is to use all the negative stuff. We talked about other things. I told him how I came into the UK to go and fix our problem. All those were removed from the report.”
Mr Adedipe, who has vowed not to stop yam export business, disclosed that “the other mistake was the shipping line we used. But they were the ones that were available.”
According to him, in spite of the sour experience with media report, “I’m willing to invest. I still expect…at least to take a container from Nigeria every week.”
Managing Director of Wan Nyikwagh Farms Nigeria Limited, Mr Yandev Amaabai, has strongly disputed the yam rejection story and said it doesn’t even tally.
“The story from AIT was focused on the UK. So far, I am the only person who has lifted yam to the US. Whatever we can do to clarify this issue will be good. We learn as we progress. The whole idea that government brought was to diversify the economy.”
“My goods actually got to the US on September 7, 2017. The ship berthed on September 2, 2017, but, because of the flooding in Texas, we couldn’t discharge until the 7th. They were cleared from the Customs and brought to the warehouse on the 7th. Yams are perishable items and, definitely, some may go bad on the way. But, this statement that says the American government rejected Nigerian yams, where does it come from?
“Our yams were released to us and we took them to the stores. We sorted out our yams when they got there. We distributed them to the off-takers. So, where they got this story from, I don’t know. Nobody has ever called from anywhere, even in the US, to ask me question. If a few yams got rotten, and I am not complaining, why are people crying more than the owner? I have all the papers. The Customs cleared my goods on the other side. And these things went to my warehouse from where we distributed.”
If Ghana, which produces 4.8 million tonnes of yams, according to 2008 estimates, occupies a niche as the leading exporter of crop, accounting for over 94 percent of total yam exports in West Africa, Nigeria which is by far the world’s largest producer of yams, accounting for over 70 to 76 percent of the world production, producing 35.017 million metric tonnes valued equivalent of $5.654 billion by the 2008 estimates should do better than Ghana in the export market
Ghana is the first country in West Africa to launch its national yam development strategy in 2013. The country aims at US$5billion dollars of exports by 2018. Nigeria, which produces seven times Ghana’s production volume, is beset with criticisms over attempts to bring it to the global yam markets. About 90 per cent of Ghana’s yams are exported to the US, Canada, UK and elsewhere in Europe. There are more Nigerians than Ghanaians in these countries, meaning more prospects for Nigerian exporters.
Mr Ogbeh has said that Nigeria, the largest producer of yam in the world, is not anywhere near the capacity to export and remains so much a nation of consumers.
He stressed that “Nigeria must export” as the “country’s economy is increasing, and in ten years’ time, oil and gas is going to drop. Then we may have nothing to earn foreign exchange except we begin to diversify our export base now.”
With all these prospects in view, the Minister expressed surprise at the negative news trailing his effort at putting Nigeria on the global yam export market, saying “we’re not going to stop because this is not enough to demoralise us. We have food to export. Never mind what so-called critics are doing.”
“In the ministry of agriculture,” he said, “we are not exporters. The ministry does not export. We’re going to talk to the port authority on cooling vans for vegetables and fresh produce so that exporters don’t lose money and we don’t lose face. We should begin to build cold trucks that are temperature-controlled to keep the yams till the time they have to go. We should invest in special containers for their storage.”
“If other countries are doing it, we too can do it. We’re trying to take over the market. We’ve come to nearly 70 per cent of raw output of yams. Why can’t Nigerians in Texas, Canada, London and Germany have access to the yams?”
The Minister vowed that “we will go ahead with our efforts to export yam. We will not let this opportunity slip any further. We are determined to position our people to capture the investment opportunities and benefits in the yam export to these countries. We will fix the yam export value chain. We have the volume and the market.”
“We will emphasise global best practices, engage with world class experts and international organisations as well as leverage the strength in indigenous knowledge. We will support investment in relevant infrastructure and facilities.
“We will revive the abandoned yam conditioning centres in Ekiti and Nassarawa states while we encourage the construction of new ones with appropriate equipment to boost storage and export prospects. We appeal to Nigerians, in the spirit of patriotism, to see the silver lining around the cloud of the week of misinformation about yam export.
“We have commenced engagement with the National Assembly for the repeal of the 1989 law that prohibits export of yams and other agro-commodities.
“Currently, the bill has passed the second reading at the National Assembly. The continued existence of this law is an obstruction against the economic diversification and export initiative of this administration. We plead with the National Assembly to fast-track the repeal of the law and help us further unlock our export potential,” he said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has urged Nigerians to help drive transparency in the country’s tax system as it launched the toll-free call centre and website of the Tax Ombud Office.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, during the unveiling, described the development as a major step toward improving public confidence in the country’s tax system and enhancing access to complaint-resolution services for taxpayers.
“This is a major milestone in strengthening public trust, improving accessibility, and promoting fairness in Nigeria’s tax administration system. Effective communication and citizen engagement remain central to the success of ongoing economic reforms such as this,” the minister said.
He noted that the Bola Tinubu administration was focused on implementing reforms aimed at strengthening revenue generation, ensuring fiscal sustainability and driving national development.
According to him, “Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government remains steadfast in its commitment to building a stronger, more resilient, and prosperous economy through bold and strategic reforms.”
The minister stressed the importance of taxation in national development, saying it provides resources needed for investments in critical sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, transportation and security.
He, however, maintained that tax administration must be built on trust, transparency and fairness rather than enforcement alone.
“Tax administration cannot succeed on enforcement alone. It must be supported by public trust, transparency, fairness, and effective communication,” Idris stated.
He explained that the Tax Ombud Office was created to serve as a bridge between taxpayers and tax authorities by providing a fair and professional platform for handling complaints and resolving disputes.
The minister also commended the introduction of the toll-free call centre and official website, describing them as important tools for improving public access to information and removing communication barriers.
“The launch of the Toll-Free Call Centre demonstrates a commitment to removing communication barriers and ensuring that Nigerians can easily seek information, make enquiries, and resolve complaints without unnecessary difficulties or financial burden,” he added.
Mr Idris further emphasised the need for sustained civic education and public enlightenment to encourage voluntary tax compliance and responsible citizenship.
“Tax education is not just about revenue generation; it is about building a culture of national participation and shared responsibility,” he said.
The minister warned that misinformation and poor communication often weaken public trust in reforms, calling for stronger collaboration among government institutions, the media, civil society groups and other stakeholders.
“Misinformation and inadequate communication often contribute to distrust and resistance to reforms. This underscores the importance of strategic media engagement and sustained public communication,” he noted.
He pledged the continued support of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in sensitising Nigerians on tax reforms, taxpayers’ rights and available complaint-resolution mechanisms.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, says Nigeria has continued to maintain crude oil production within its Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota while simultaneously expanding its production capacity.
Mr Lokpobiri disclosed this after participating as head of the Nigerian delegation at the 41st OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting, the 66th Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) meeting, and the 193rd OPEC Conference.
According to the minister, participating countries reaffirmed existing crude oil production levels under the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) framework, which will remain in force until December 31, 2026, as agreed at the 38th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting.
According to a statement on his official X handle, the meetings focused on sustaining market stability, transparency and long-term growth in the global energy industry.
“During these engagements, we reaffirmed the overall crude oil production levels for OPEC and non-OPEC Participating Countries under the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC), as agreed at the 38th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting, with the framework remaining in place until 31 December 2026,” Mr Lokpobiri stated.
The minister noted that member countries also reviewed progress on the Maximum Sustainable Capacity (MSC) assessment, which will serve as the benchmark for determining future production baselines from 2027.
“We also noted the importance of completing the Maximum Sustainable Capacity (MSC) assessment for all DoC countries, which will serve as the reference point for determining production baselines from 2027,” he said.
Mr Lokpobiri explained that the discussions underscored the collective commitment of oil-producing nations to maintaining a balanced market while ensuring sustainable long-term investments in the energy sector.
“These deliberations reflect our shared commitment to ensuring market stability, transparency, and long-term sustainability within the global energy sector,” he added.
For Nigeria, however, the minister said the more significant development was the country’s ability to comply with its OPEC obligations while strengthening production capabilities through ongoing reforms and investment inflows.
“For Nigeria, it is particularly noteworthy that we have consistently maintained production within our OPEC quota while simultaneously strengthening our capacity to produce more,” he stated.
He said the strategy places Nigeria in a stronger position to respond to future increases in demand without compromising market stability or national economic objectives.
“This balanced approach positions us to respond effectively to future opportunities while safeguarding the best economic interests of our people and supporting national development objectives,” Mr Lokpobiri said.
Nigeria’s crypto regulatory environment keeps shifting. Traders looking for the best crypto derivatives exchange in Nigeria are still figuring out how to navigate evolving frameworks while accessing global derivatives platforms — and the choice comes down to a handful of practical concerns: how painful is onboarding, what contracts are available, how high does leverage go, what do fees actually look like at your volume tier, and can you practice before putting real money at risk?
Choosing a Crypto Derivatives Exchange in Nigeria
A crypto derivatives exchange in Nigeria gives traders access to perpetual futures — instruments that let you speculate on price movements with leverage without holding the underlying asset. Perpetual futures don’t expire and rely on funding rate mechanisms to keep prices anchored to spot. Margin can be denominated in USDT, USDC, or the base coin.
Several factors carry extra weight for traders based in Nigeria. KYC processes can drag on or hit dead ends depending on your region, so low-barrier onboarding matters a lot. Fiat on-ramp variety, competitive fees, demo environments for learning leverage mechanics, and transparent reserve data — these are what separate serious platforms from thin wrappers. BYDFi Nigeria— the regional arm of a global exchange founded in 2020 that has been operating for over 6 years — addresses several of these needs in ways worth examining.
Six Years Running, Plus a Premier League Deal
The exchange launched in 2020 and now serves more than 1,000,000 registered users across 190+ countries and regions. Six years of continuous operation gives it a track record that newer platforms simply can’t replicate.
One credibility signal that lands particularly well in Nigeria: BYDFi became the Official Crypto Exchange Partner of Premier League club Newcastle United through a multi-year deal announced in August 2025. The Premier League has enormous Nigerian viewership, so the partnership signals brand visibility and commercial commitment. The platform is registered as a Money Services Business with FinCEN in the U.S. and holds membership in South Korea’s CODE VASP Alliance.
How Nigeria’s Regulatory Reality Shapes Platform Choice
Banking restrictions and verification bottlenecks have historically been the biggest headache for Nigerian crypto traders. For anyone evaluating a crypto derivatives exchange in Nigeria, the onboarding experience matters enormously. The exchange’s approach here is notable: users can sign up with just an email address and start trading without immediate identity verification, subject to tier-based limits.
That low-friction entry is a genuine practical edge. Optional KYC unlocks higher withdrawal limits and features like P2P trading, so anyone planning to move significant capital can verify at their own pace.
Perpetual Futures, Copy Trading, and Leverage Tools
Nigeria’s derivatives trading community has grown fast, fueled by traders who want leveraged exposure to BTC, ETH, and altcoins without the capital demands of spot accumulation. Contract infrastructure matters enormously here.
In December 2024, the platform upgraded its perpetuals system with three features experienced derivatives traders will recognise as significant: opening new positions without unrealized profits, bi-directional long/short hedging, and shared funds in full-margin mode to reduce liquidation risk. The hedging capability — holding simultaneous long and short positions on the same contract — is a tool commonly used during volatile sessions to manage directional exposure without closing positions.
Fees sit at maker 0.02% / taker 0.06% at the base VIP 0 tier. A 7-tier VIP program (VIP 0–6) offers up to 60% futures fee discount based on 30-day trading volume or asset balance.
| Feature | Details |
| Contract types | USDT-M, USDC-M, COIN-M perpetual futures |
| Leverage range | 1x – 200x |
| Base fees (VIP 0) | Maker 0.02% / Taker 0.06% |
| Max fee discount | Up to 60% (VIP 6) |
| Hedging | Bi-directional long/short on same contract |
| Copy Trading | Live since Jan 2025; starts at $10 |
Copy Trading went live in January 2025, followed by Perpetual Smart Copy Trading in August 2025. Users can automatically follow professional traders with proportional order sizing and isolated positions. Entry starts at just $10, with flexible margin options and multi-asset contract support. On the automation side, the platform offers four trading bots — Spot DCA, Spot Grid, Futures Grid, and Spot Martingale — plus a Bot Marketplace for community-created strategies.
Demo Trading: Learning Leverage at Zero Cost
Probably the most underappreciated feature for anyone entering the derivatives space. Setting up BYDFi’s demo trading account takes under two minutes. It comes preloaded with 50,000 USDT and mirrors real market conditions, supporting both USDT-M and COIN-M perpetual contracts.
For Nigerian traders new to futures, it’s a practical way to understand how margin calls and liquidation actually work before converting naira into risk capital. Not a luxury — a necessity. Any crypto derivatives exchange in Nigeria worth considering should offer this kind of risk-free practice environment.
What to Watch Going Forward
Nigeria’s crypto regulatory picture is still developing, and how global exchanges adapt to local compliance requirements will determine which platforms remain accessible. The tiered access model works today, but the broader industry trajectory points toward tighter verification standards.
The more concrete metric to track: whether the platform keeps expanding its contract types and risk-management tools.
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