Nigeria’s non-oil export hits $1.79bn in Q1 2025

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has announced that Nigeria’s non-oil export rose to $1.791 billion in the first quarter of 2025.

The NEPC Chief Executive Officer, Nonye Ayeni, disclosed this at a one-day sensitisation exercise organised by the council for sesame seed farmers in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

Ayeni, who was represented by the Chief Trade Promotion Officer of NEPC, Okany Chika Sylva, said the export value represents 24.75 per cent increase compared to 19.59 per cent for the first quarter of 2024.

She said non-oil performance 2024, indicated that sesame seed ranked number three out of the top 20 export products, amounting to 337.8258 metric tonnes with 4.63 per cent of the quantity exported.

“Nigeria can obtain a significant share in the enormous forex from sesame seed export in the globlglobal market,” Ayeni said.

Ayeni stressed the need to enhance the nation’s sesame yields and production, to maximise the export potentials along the value chain.

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In a presentation, the NEPC boss said export of Nigeria’s sesame seed to Japan between 2019 and 2021 was threatened due to the discovery of excess pesticide residue and salmonella.

Ayeni added: “The offshoot this discovery was raised by Japan Oil and Fat Importers and Exporters Association (JOFIEA) on 5th August, 2022.

“Relatively, the Japanese authorities confirmed that a high dose of pesticide residue found in Sesame Seed exported to Japan between 2019-2021 was 1.9 times in excess of Maximum Residue Limit (MRL).”

Ayeni stated that some of the challenges related to sesame seed export include poor compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, cross contamination during handling process, and lack of proper documentation by exporters.

The NEPC boss listed some of the solutions to include addressing contaminant issue from the farm gate to the market, comprehensive approach and leveraging training of farmers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).

The Star