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…Lament industrial, trade policy gaps
By Merit Ibe
Trade and economic experts have called for a strategic shift in Nigeria’s foreign policy to prioritise trade promotion, export growth and industrial development, while also leveraging ambassadors and the Nigerian diaspora to expand global market access.
They argue that historically, Nigeria’s foreign policy has not been trade-focused, while the country’s trade policy has largely favoured importation instead of supporting industrial growth.
According to available records, Nigeria maintains about 110 diplomatic missions worldwide out of about 195 countries globally, a network experts say could be better utilised for trade promotion and economic diplomacy.
Despite signing several international trade agreements with organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, the Commonwealth and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Nigeria still controls less than three per cent of global trade and only about five per cent of intra-ECOWAS trade after more than five decades.
The experts also noted that intra-African trade has declined from about 20 per cent to roughly 15 per cent even after the launch of AfCFTA, indicating weak performance by African economies including Nigeria.
A trade expert and former Director General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. John Isemede, said Nigeria’s new ambassadors must ensure that international agreements promote exports, industrialisation and economic growth rather than encourage more imports or borrowing.
Isemede, a former export manager at Unilever and Dangote Group and past consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), explained that Nigeria’s geographic position in the Gulf of Guinea and West Africa offers strong opportunities for transit trade through its land borders with neighbouring countries.
He noted that global trade operates on the principles of imports and exports and Nigeria must strategically leverage both to expand its economic influence.
Decrying persistent gaps in Nigeria’s industrial and trade policies, he said that as the country approaches its 66th independence anniversary in October, industrialisation remains weak while import dependence continues to dominate.
According to him, agriculture remains largely underdeveloped, with plantation agriculture accounting for only about two per cent, commercial agriculture about 18 per cent, while subsistence farming represents nearly 80 per cent.
He expressed concern that Nigeria still imports significant quantities of food despite having over 300 universities, many with faculties of agriculture, as well as numerous research institutions and development partners.
He also pointed to infrastructure deficiencies as a major barrier to export growth, citing the absence of adequate silos, commodity boards, properly configured export ports and functional commodity exchanges.
Isemede said Nigeria possesses strong export potential in products such as cocoa, yam, melon, sesame and shea butter if proper value chains are developed.
He added that the country has about 55 solid mineral sites, with only around 40 currently commercialised, while ceramics and construction materials also offer opportunities for export and industrial expansion.
On the role of the Nigerian diaspora, Isemede noted that professionals abroad including doctors, engineers and athletes could contribute significantly through remittances, investments and knowledge transfer if supported by appropriate policies, similar to models used in India, China and the United States.
He also highlighted the need to improve trade infrastructure such as railways, airports, shipping capacity, border markers and trade cost calculation systems to strengthen Nigeria’s participation in global commerce.
According to him, Nigeria must also develop stronger trade promotion institutions and establish clear export targets to guide trade missions and international engagement.
Isemede further recommended that newly appointed Nigerian ambassadors and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should undergo structured training and practical exposure before assuming their diplomatic postings.
Drawing from his experience at NACCIMA, he said ambassadors were previously taken through private-sector operations to better understand business processes in Nigeria.
These included visits to ports to observe customs procedures, including single-window import processing systems, as well as practical training on import duty calculations and export costing.
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Such exposure, he said, helped ambassadors become more effective in promoting Nigeria’s trade interests abroad.
He stressed that ambassadors should not be deployed without clear performance targets and accountability measures, noting that their performance should be assessed within the first six months of posting by both government and private sector stakeholders.
Isemede also identified key markets Nigeria should prioritise in its trade diplomacy strategy, including neighbouring countries such as Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin Republic, the wider ECOWAS region, and broader global markets under the AfCFTA framework.
To further strengthen Nigeria’s export presence, he advocated adopting a model similar to the global Chinatown concept by establishing permanent “Nigeria Markets” abroad to showcase Nigerian products, culture and services.
On the Chinatown model, Mr Victor Ogiemwonyi, supported John Isemede’s idea that Chinatowns function as vital bridges between the Chinese diaspora and the mainland. Ogiemwonyi explained that they are more than just neighborhoods; “they are sophisticated commercial enclaves and economic hubs that facilitate trade and investment.
By providing crucial supply chain linkages, these markets connect products manufactured at home with diaspora populations.
According to him, these enclaves serve as supply chain bridges that introduce products to global markets through diaspora networks.
He said a similar concept already exists informally among Nigerians abroad, as diaspora communities often seek convenient access to authentic Nigerian products.
Beyond serving Nigerians overseas, he said such markets could introduce non-Nigerians to Nigerian culture, cuisine and products, thereby strengthening the country’s soft power.
He noted that the growing global popularity of Nigerian cuisine demonstrates how cultural exposure can drive wider interest in a country’s products and lifestyle.
Ogiemwonyi proposed establishing permanent “Nigeria Markets” in countries where Nigeria maintains diplomatic missions, describing them as more effective than temporary trade fairs.
According to him, such markets would serve as steady distribution channels for Nigerian exports, stimulating domestic production and diversifying foreign exchange earnings.
Ogiemwonyi added that these hubs could evolve into cultural and commercial centres that host festivals, promote tourism and showcase Nigerian services.
Importantly, he stressed that the initiative should be driven by private investment rather than government funding.
With strong business plans and equity investors, he said financing could be secured from domestic and international banks.
The government’s role, he noted, should be limited to providing diplomatic support and light regulatory oversight.
He suggested that trade advisory offices within Nigerian embassies could recognise and support these hubs as official “Nigeria Markets” while liaising with host governments to facilitate their operations.
Ogiemwonyi believes such platforms would act as permanent showrooms and distribution centres for Nigerian goods, giving small and medium-scale enterprises access to international buyers without heavy marketing costs.
If effectively implemented, he said the concept could attract foreign direct investment, stimulate industrial development and create a sustainable engine for non-oil export growth.
Isemede concluded that Nigeria already possesses the resources needed to expand its global trade presence, including favourable geography, an extensive diaspora network, skilled experts and numerous international agreements.
However, he emphasised that stronger coordination, improved infrastructure and trade-focused policies are required to convert these advantages into measurable economic growth.
The trade expert also stressed that Nigerian ambassadors must act as the country’s leading international marketing managers, promoting Made-in-Nigeria goods and supporting businesses abroad in line with the responsibilities outlined in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
