… Non-oil sector now contributes 96% of GDP; reserves rise to $55bn—FG to launch digital export processing to boost earnings for Nigerian businesses
Nigeria’s drive to reduce its dependence on crude oil is gathering momentum, with non-oil export earnings reaching $6.1 billion in 2025, while activities outside the petroleum sector now account for approximately 96 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Against this backdrop, the Federal Government has announced plans to introduce an automated export processing system from December 14, 2026, to make it easier, faster, and less expensive for Nigerian businesses to sell their products in international markets.
The initiative, being implemented under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s National Single Window (NSW) programme, is designed to eliminate cumbersome paperwork, reduce bureaucratic delays, improve regulatory compliance, and plug revenue leakages that have traditionally frustrated exporters.
The developments were disclosed on Thursday at separate events in Port Harcourt and Abuja, where government officials outlined measures to strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil economy and accelerate the country’s transition towards a more diversified, export-driven economy.
Speaking at the National Single Window Phase Two Export Sensitisation Joint Stakeholders Engagement in Port Harcourt, the project’s director, Mr Tola Fakolade, said the Federal Government was moving to consolidate export documentation, permits, and regulatory approvals on a unified digital platform.
According to him, the new system will enable exporters to process essential documentation electronically instead of navigating multiple government agencies and administrative procedures.
The second phase, scheduled to commence on 14 December, will initially cover export permits issued by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Federal Produce Inspection Service.
A subsequent rollout, involving export processes handled by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is expected in the first quarter of 2027.
Fakolade explained that the first phase of the National Single Window had already improved coordination among regulatory agencies by integrating their digital systems and strengthening compliance requirements.
“One of the testimonials we received from agencies during the first phase was that enforced compliance on the platform helped users comply with regulations.
“When there is compliance, there is also a reduction in revenue leakages,” he said.
He disclosed that the project had completed User Acceptance Testing, while training for exporters and other users would begin on Monday.
The implementation team, he added, had undertaken sensitisation programmes in Enugu, Akure, Jos, Lagos, and Port Harcourt, with further engagements scheduled for Kano and Abuja.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), which maintains a database of registered exporters.
At the same event, NEPC Executive Director, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, disclosed that Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings increased by 11.5 per cent from $5.46 billion in 2024 to $6.1 billion in 2025.
Ayeni, represented by the council’s Director of Trade Information, Mr Ndubueze Okeke, said export volumes also rose by 10 per cent to 8.02 million metric tonnes.
She revealed that Nigerian exporters shipped 281 different non-oil products to 120 countries during the year, reflecting the growing international market for goods produced outside the petroleum industry.
According to her, sustaining this growth will require more efficient systems that allow Nigerian products to reach foreign buyers without unnecessary delays and excessive administrative costs.
She expressed confidence that the National Single Window would improve coordination among government agencies, eliminate duplication, increase transparency, and reduce the burden of regulatory compliance on businesses.
“Our objective is to ensure a seamless transition that simplifies processes rather than creates additional burdens for businesses,” she stated.
The NEPC chief executive said exporters would also receive guidance on the relationship between the new platform, the Trade Monitoring System, Forms NXP and NCX, and the various permits and certifications required for international trade.
Similarly, the Nigeria Customs Service confirmed that it was working with relevant agencies to digitise and integrate export documentation into the platform.
The Controller in charge of Modernisation, Mr Aondona Fanyam, said the system, which had already undergone testing through import processes, was being extended to exports in phases.
“The agencies are ready, but the stakeholders need to be aware of what is happening. That is why we are here to sensitise them and provide avenues for training,” he explained.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has declared that his administration’s economic reforms are beginning to produce measurable results, with non-oil activities now accounting for approximately 96 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the public presentation of a book titled Economic Diversification and Structural Transformation in Nigeria: Past, Present and Future, the President said the country was moving from economic stabilisation towards sustainable growth and shared prosperity.
Tinubu, represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, disclosed that Nigeria’s external reserves had risen to approximately $55 billion, which he said represented more than 14 months of import cover.
He also announced that non-oil revenue had increased from N13.63 trillion in 2023 to N16.4 trillion in the first half of 2026.
The President attributed the improvements to economic reforms undertaken since his administration assumed office in May 2023, including the removal of petrol subsidies, foreign exchange market unification, and measures to improve government revenue.
He acknowledged that the reforms had imposed significant financial pressure on Nigerian households but maintained that the difficult decisions were necessary to restore economic stability.
“These were not easy decisions, and I know the weight they placed on every household, but they were necessary, and today the pain is yielding its promise,” he said.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030 through increased investment in agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, technology, and other productive sectors.
He stressed that Nigeria could not achieve lasting prosperity through taxation alone but must expand production, strengthen industries, and create opportunities for businesses to grow.
“We cannot tax our way into prosperity; we must produce our way there,” the President declared.
He said the administration was harmonising the country’s tax system to address multiple taxation and create a more favourable environment for investment.
According to him, the government is also encouraging private-sector participation through a framework designed to reduce investment risks and mobilise capital for economic development.
On infrastructure, Tinubu highlighted efforts to revive the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, expand Geregu Power’s generation capacity to 1,300 megawatts, and rehabilitate the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.
He identified the Kano–Katsina–Maradi Railway, Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, and Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway as major infrastructure projects intended to improve connectivity, facilitate trade, and open new economic opportunities.
The President also outlined measures to improve agricultural productivity through irrigation, mechanisation, and livestock reforms, while encouraging domestic processing of mineral resources to increase their economic value.
In the technology sector, he cited plans to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cables and expand digital skills development through the Three Million Technical Talent programme.
He said the Bank of Industry was extending low-interest loans and grants to market women, artisans, and young entrepreneurs across the country’s 774 local government areas.
On education and housing, Tinubu highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), university solarisation projects, and the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, under which more than 10,000 homes were being developed across 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He disclosed that the MOFI Real Estate Investment Fund had provided approximately N128 billion in mortgages to 1,859 families across 25 states.
The President pledged continued collaboration with the National Assembly to strengthen the regulatory framework for housing and real estate development.
He commended the author of the book, Dr Abdulmumin Jibrin, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in Kano State, for documenting Nigeria’s economic development and the policy choices required to diversify the economy.
Jibrin said Nigeria’s long-term prosperity depended on unlocking opportunities in agriculture, technology, solid minerals, manufacturing, and the creative industries.
“For too long, our nation has leaned heavily on a single economic pillar,” he said, urging greater investment in sectors capable of generating employment, increasing exports, and strengthening the country’s productive capacity.
The 555-page publication examines Nigeria’s economic history, fiscal policies, infrastructure development, and the search for sustainable prosperity beyond crude oil.
Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo delivered the keynote address, while industrialist Abdulsamad Rabiu presented the book, and Dr Reuben Abati served as a reviewer.
The latest export figures and the planned automation of export procedures underscore the Federal Government’s efforts to expand Nigeria’s sources of foreign exchange earnings beyond crude oil.
Although petroleum remains a major source of export receipts, the growing contribution of non-oil activities to GDP highlights the importance of agriculture, services, manufacturing, technology, and other sectors to the wider economy.
For Nigerian farmers, manufacturers, traders, and small businesses seeking access to international markets, the December 14 rollout is expected to offer a more convenient route to securing export approvals, reducing paperwork, and improving the movement of locally produced goods to foreign buyers.
The effectiveness of the initiative will ultimately depend on its implementation, the readiness of participating agencies, and the extent to which exporters experience measurable reductions in processing times and costs.
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