Nigeria TV Info 

Nigeria Suffers Nearly ₦1tn Export Loss After Trump Tariff Hike

Nigeria’s export earnings to the United States plunged by about ₦940.98 billion in the first nine months of 2025 following Washington’s decision to raise tariffs under its “reciprocal tariff” policy, federal trade data show.

Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveal that Nigeria’s exports to the U.S. dropped from ₦4.59 trillion in Q1–Q3 2024 to ₦3.65 trillion over the same period in 2025 — a 20.5 % decline linked to the tariff increase that took effect on August 7, 2025.

Meanwhile, imports from the U.S. surged by 125.5 %, rising to ₦6.80 trillion, flipping Nigeria’s previously favourable trade balance into a ₦3.15 trillion deficit with its once‑top export partner.

Non‑oil exports — particularly agricultural and manufactured goods — bore the brunt of the downturn, as crude oil remained largely exempt from the new tariff regime. The steep fall in shipments saw the U.S. drop out of Nigeria’s top-five export destinations by mid‑2025, underscoring the vulnerability of export earnings to external policy shifts.

The Tinubu administration has vowed resilience, emphasizing economic diversification, stronger AfCFTA trade ties, and greater focus on non‑U.S. markets to offset the shock. Officials stress that this moment could hasten efforts to broaden Nigeria’s export base beyond oil and to deepen South–South trade partnerships.