The Nigerian Economic Summit Group has warned that export rerouting remains a major constraint on Nigeria’s trade competitiveness and domestic value capture. The warning comes after Nigeria recorded a ₦7.55 trillion trade surplus in the first quarter of 2026, a sharp improvement from the previous quarter.
At first glance, the trade surplus appears to be a strong progress. According to reports based on National Bureau of Statistics data, Nigeria’s total trade stood at ₦34.79 trillion in Q1 2026, with exports at ₦21.17 trillion and imports at ₦13.62 trillion. The trade balance remained positive at ₦7.55 trillion.
But NESG’s concern is that Nigeria may not be capturing the full value of its exports. When goods are routed through neighbouring countries before reaching final destinations, Nigeria loses part of the economic benefit that should remain at home.
What Export Rerouting Means
Export rerouting happens when goods produced in one country are moved through another country before they reach buyers. In some cases, this happens because exporters find it easier, faster, or cheaper to use ports, certification systems, or trade channels outside their home country.
For Nigeria, this is a serious issue. If Nigerian products are routed through neighbouring countries, the country may lose logistics revenue, trade data accuracy, processing value, and branding benefits. It can also weaken Nigeria’s position as a regional trade hub.
NESG said Nigeria needs to strengthen quality assurance and certification systems to make local goods more competitive and reduce export rerouting through neighbouring countries. The group also called for export procedures and port operations to be streamlined to reduce delays and logistics costs.
Why Certification Is So Important
In global trade, quality certification can determine whether a product enters a market smoothly or faces rejection, delays, or extra costs. Buyers want assurance that products meet required standards. If Nigerian exporters struggle to get recognised certification locally, they may depend on third-country systems.
This weakens Nigeria’s trade position. It also means Nigerian producers may do the hard work of creating goods, while another country benefits from the final trade channel. For sectors such as agriculture, food processing, textiles, leather, and manufactured goods, certification can be the difference between local selling and export growth.
Ports and Logistics Remain a Major Barrier
Nigeria’s port system has long faced complaints about congestion, paperwork, delays, and high logistics costs. When exporters face uncertainty at ports, they may look for alternatives. This is one reason neighbouring countries can become attractive export routes.
Fixing ports is therefore not just a transport issue. It is a trade competitiveness issue. If Nigeria wants to become a true export economy, goods must move faster, cheaper, and with less frustration.
Why the Trade Surplus Needs Careful Reading
The ₦7.55 trillion trade surplus is positive, but Nigeria must examine what is driving it. If the surplus depends heavily on crude oil exports and lower imports, it may not represent broad-based productive growth. A stronger trade position would come from more processed goods, manufactured exports, and value-added products.
This is where NESG’s warning becomes important. Nigeria should not celebrate export numbers alone. It must ask how much value is created locally, how much is retained domestically, and how much is lost because of weak systems.
The AfCFTA Opportunity
The African Continental Free Trade Area gives Nigeria a major chance to sell more goods across Africa. But opportunity does not automatically become market share. Nigerian exporters must meet standards, deliver on time, price competitively, and build trust with buyers.
If certification, logistics, and ports remain weak, Nigeria may struggle to benefit fully from AfCFTA. Smaller countries with smoother systems may capture trade flows that Nigeria should naturally dominate because of its population, production base, and market size.
The Business Takeaway
NESG’s message is clear: Nigeria’s trade growth must move beyond headline numbers. A trade surplus is useful, but the real goal is stronger domestic value capture.
To achieve that, Nigeria must improve certification systems, simplify export procedures, fix port bottlenecks, invest in industrial processing zones, and support exporters with practical infrastructure. If these reforms happen, Nigeria can turn trade from a statistical win into a real engine for jobs, foreign exchange, and industrial growth.
