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Economy

Nigeria’s Trade Hits N35.2trn in Q3 2024 as Surplus Expands to N5.8trn

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trade in Nigeria

By Adedapo Adesanya

According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s total merchandise trade stood at N35.2 trillion in the third quarter of 2024, representing an increase of 81.4 percent from the value recorded in the corresponding period of 2023 and a rise of 13.26 percent over the value recorded in the preceding quarter.

In the quarter under review, exports accounted for 58.3 per cent of total trade with a value of N20.5 trillion, showing an increase of 98 per cent rise over the value recorded in the third quarter of 2023 (N10.34 trillion) and 16.8 per cent compared to the value recorded in Q2 2024 (N17.5 trillion).

On the other hand, the share of imports accounted for 41.7 per cent of total trade in the third quarter of 2024, with the value of imports amounting to N14.7 trillion in Q3 2024.

This value indicates an increase of 62.3 per cent compared to the value recorded in Q3 2023 (N9.04 trillion) and 8.7 per cent over the value recorded in Q2 2024 (N13.5 illion).

With Nigeria’s exports outweighing its import, the merchandise trade balance for Q3 2024 remained positive at N5.8 trillion indicating an increase of 43.6 per cent compared to the value recorded in the preceding quarter.

A further breakdown showed that Nigeria’s exports trade continued to be dominated by crude oil exports, in the third quarter of 2024. Crude oil export was valued at N13.4 trillion representing 65.4 per cent of total exports while the value of non-crude oil exports stood at N7.08 trillion accounting for 34.6 per cent of total exports; of which non-oil products contributed N2.5 trillion or 12.2 per cent of total exports.

During the third quarter of 2024, total imports were valued at N14.7 trillion accounting for 41.7 per cent of total trade.

Nigeria’s top-ranked group import was mineral fuels with N5.14 trillion representing 35.0 per cent of total imports, this was followed by machinery and transport equipment with N3.8 trillion (25.8 per cent of total imports) and chemicals & related products with N1.9 trillion (13.5 per cent of total imports).

Nigeria imported goods mainly from Asia, valued at N7.3 trillion representing 49.7 per cent of total imports. This was followed by imports from Europe with N5.4 trillion or 36.5 per cent, America with N1.4 trillion or 9.8 per cent, while imports from Oceania stood at with N73.91 billion or 0.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2024.

Trade with African countries stood at N512.56 billion or 3.49 per cent of total imports; of which imports from ECOWAS countries amounted to N72.71 billion or 0.5 per cent of total imports.

Analysis by trading partners reveals that imports from China were valued at N3.6 trillion, representing 24.4 per cent of total imports. This was followed by imports from India with N1.7 trillion (11.3 per cent of total imports), Belgium with imports valued at N1.6 trillion or 11.1 per cent of total imports, United States of America with goods valued at N1.02 trillion (6.9 per cent of total imports) and goods from Malta valued at N766.81 billion or 5.2 per cent of total imports.

Exports by section revealed that Nigeria exported mainly mineral products valued at N18.1 trillion, or 88.5 per cent of the total export value, this was followed by exports of prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco worth N722.66 billion or 3.5 per cent of the value of total exports and vehicles, aircraft and parts thereof; vessels, with N667.11 billion or 3.3 per cent of the value of total exports.

Exports trade by region shows that Nigeria exported goods mainly to Europe with goods valued at N9.2 trillion or 45.1 per cent of total exports, followed by exports to Asia valued at N5.2 trillion or 25.3 per cent of total exports, while exports to America was valued at N3.4 trillion representing 16.5 per cent of total exports.

Exports to Africa stood at N2.5 trillion or 12.1 per cent of the total exports; out of which, good exported to ECOWAS countries was valued at N1.5 trillion.

Analysis of exports according to trading partners revealed that during the quarter under review, the main export destination was Spain with a value of N2.3 trillion or 11.1 per cent of total exports, followed by exports to the US with N1.7 trillion or 8.3 per cent of total exports, France with N1.6 trillion or 7.8 per cent of total export, the Netherlands with N1.4 trillion or 7 per cent of total exports, and exports to Italy with goods valued at N1.4 billion representing 6.7 per cent of total exports.

The NBS noted that these five countries collectively accounted for 40.8 per cent of the value of total exports in Q3, 2024.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

Economy

Petrol Supply up 55.4% as Daily Consumption Reaches 52.1 million Litres

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By Adedapo Adesanya

The supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, increased by 55.4 per cent on a month-on-month basis to 71.5 million litres per day in November 2025 from 46 million litres per day in October.

This was contained in the November 2025 fact sheet of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Monday.

The data showed that the nation’s consumption also increased by 44.5 per cent or 37.4 million litres to 52.1 million litres per day in November 2025, against 28.9 million litres in October.

The significant increase in petrol supply last month was on account of the imports by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited into the Nigerian market from both the domestic and the international market.

Domestic refineries supplied in the period stood at 17.1 million litres per day, while the average daily consumption of PMS for the month was 52.9 million litres per day.

The NMDPRA noted that no production activities were recorded in all the state-owned refineries, which included Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries, in the period, as the refineries remained shut down.

According to the report, the imports were aimed at building inventory and further guaranteeing supply during the peak demand period.

Other reasons for the increase, according to the NMDPRA, were due to “low supply recorded in September and October 2025, below the national demand threshold; the need for boosting national stock level to meet the peak demand period of end of year festivities, and twelve vessels programmed to discharge into October, which spilled into November.”

On gas, the average daily gas supply climbed to 4.684 billion standard cubic feet per day in November 2025, from the 3.94 bscf/d average processing level recorded in October.

The Nigeria LNG Trains 1-6 also maintained a stable processing output of 3.5 bscf/d in November 2025, but utilisation improved slightly to 73.7 per cent compared with 71.68 per cent in October.

The increase, according to the report, was driven by higher plant utilisation across processing hubs and steady export volumes from the Nigeria LNG plant in Bonny.

“As of November 2025, Nigeria’s major gas processing facilities recorded improved output and utilisation levels, with the Nigeria LNG Trains 1-6 processing 3.50 billion standard cubic feet per day at a utilisation rate of 73.70 per cent.

“Gbaran Ubie Gas Plant processed 1.250 bscf per day, operating at 71.21 per cent utilisation, while the MPNU Bonny River Terminal recorded a throughput of 0.690 bscf per day during the period. Processing activities at the Escravos Gas Plant stood at 0.680 bscf per day, representing a 62 per cent utilisation rate, whereas the Soku Gas Plant emerged as the top performer, processing 0.600 bscf per day at 96.84 per cent utilisation,” it stated.

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Economy

Secure Electronic Technology Suspends Share Reconstruction as Investors Pull Out

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Secure Electronic Technology

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The proposed share reconstruction of a local gaming firm, Secure Electronic Technology (SET), has been suspended.

The Lagos-based company decided to shelve the exercise after negotiations with potential investors crumbled like a house of cards.

Secure Electronic Technology was earlier in talks with some foreign investors interested in the organisation.

Plans were underway to restructure the shares of the company, which are listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.

However, things did not go as planned as the potential investors pulled out, leaving the board to consider others ways to move the firm forward.

Confirming this development, the company secretary, Ms Irene Attoe, in a statement, said the board would explore other means to keep the company running to deliver value to shareholders.

“This is to notify the NGX and the investing public that a meeting of the board of SET held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, as scheduled, to consider the status of the proposed share reconstruction and recapitalisation as approved by the members at the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on April 16, 2025.

“After due deliberations, the board wishes to announce that the proposed share reconstruction will not take place as anticipated due to the inability of the parties to reach a convergence on the best and mutually viable terms.

“Thus, following an impasse in the negotiations, and the investors’ withdrawal from the transaction, the board has, in the interest of all members, decided to accept these outcomes and move ahead in the overall interest of the business.

“The board is committed to driving the strategic objectives of SEC and to seeking viable opportunities for sustainable growth of the company,” the disclosure stated.

Business Post reports that the share price of SET crashed by 3.85 per cent on Tuesday on Customs Street on Tuesday to 75 Kobo. Its 52-week high remains N1.33 and its one-year low is 45 Kobo. Today, investors transacted 39,331,958 units.

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Economy

Clea to Streamline Cross-Border Payments for African Importers

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Clea Payment platform

By Adedapo Adesanya

Clea, a blockchain-powered platform that allows African importers to pay international suppliers in USD while settling locally, has officially launched.

During its pilot phase, Clea processed more than $4 million in cross-border transactions, demonstrating strong early demand from businesses navigating the complexities of global trade.

Clea addresses persistent challenges that African importers have long struggled with, including limited FX access, unpredictable exchange rates, high bank charges, fraudulent intermediaries, and payment delays that slow or halt shipments. The continent also faces a trade-finance gap estimated at over $120 billion annually, limiting importers’ ability to access the FX and financial infrastructure needed for timely international payments by offering fast, transparent, and direct USD settlements, completed without intermediaries or banking bottlenecks.

Founded by Mr Sheriff Adedokun, Mr Iyiola Osuagwu, and Mr Sidney Egwuatu, Clea was created from the team’s own experiences dealing with unreliable international payments. The platform currently serves Nigerian importers trading with suppliers in the United States, China, and the UAE, with plans to expand into additional trade corridors.

The platform will allow local payments in Naira with instant access to Dollars as well as instant, same-day, or next-day settlement options and transparent, traceable transactions that reduce fraud risk.

Speaking on the launch, Mr Adedokun said, “Importers face unnecessary stress when payments are delayed or rejected. Clea eliminates that uncertainty by offering reliable, secure, and traceable payments completed in the importer’s own name, strengthening supplier confidence from day one.”

Mr Osuagwu, co-founder & CTO, added, “Our goal is to make global trade feel as seamless as a local transfer. By connecting local currencies to global transactions through blockchain technology, we are removing long-standing barriers that have limited African importers for years.”

According to a statement shared with Business Post, Clea is already working with shipping operators who refer merchants to the platform and is also engaging trade associations and logistics networks in key import hubs. The company remains fully bootstrapped but is open to strategic investors aligned with its mission to build a trusted global payment network for African businesses.

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