Nigeria Becomes UK’s Largest African Export Market as Trade Hits £8.1bn

By Folarin Adeyemi Aluko

Nigeria has officially emerged as the United Kingdom’s largest export market in Africa, with total bilateral trade between both countries reaching a record £8.1 billion. The milestone marks a significant strengthening of economic ties and signals a shift from high-level diplomatic engagements to tangible commercial partnerships.

This development comes on the heels of the UK’s first trade and investment mission to Nigeria since the recent UK–Nigeria State Visit, underscoring renewed efforts to deepen economic cooperation and unlock investment opportunities across critical sectors.

According to a statement issued by the British High Commission and signed by its Senior Press & Public Affairs Officer and Communications Lead (Growth), Ndidiamaka Eze, the two-day mission brought together 43 delegates representing 30 British companies. The initiative was supported by the UK Department for Business and Trade and delivered by DMA Invest in partnership with the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission.

During the visit, the delegation engaged Nigerian stakeholders across key sectors including infrastructure, energy, agriculture, finance, and technology, with the aim of building partnerships and facilitating business deals.

The mission aligns with the priorities outlined in the UK–Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership and reflects growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s reform-driven economy.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, described the initiative as a clear demonstration of intent to translate political alignment into real business outcomes.

He noted that the mission, being the first since the State Visit, highlights the UK’s commitment to fostering long-term partnerships by connecting British companies with Nigerian counterparts and supporting delivery-focused collaborations.

On her part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission, Aisha Rimi, described the engagement as a strategic step toward converting diplomatic momentum into measurable economic gains.

She emphasized that the strong interest from UK companies reflects growing confidence in Nigeria’s economic reforms and its position as a leading investment destination in Africa, adding that efforts are ongoing to ensure such engagements translate into sustainable investments, job creation, and inclusive growth.

Stakeholders noted that the mission also sought to reshape global perceptions of Nigeria’s business environment by highlighting improvements in macroeconomic stability and investor-friendly reforms.

Vice-Chairman of Hitech and ITB, Ronald Chagoury Jr., pointed to the successful completion of a $1 billion ports transaction backed by UK Export Finance as evidence of increasing investor confidence in Nigeria’s infrastructure sector.

He stated that the deal underscores the strength of international partnerships when aligned with national development priorities and reflects confidence in Nigeria’s ongoing reform agenda.

Chief Executive of DMA Invest, Atam Sandhu, highlighted the importance of coordinated engagement between governments, investors, and delivery partners, noting that the mission created a structured environment for deal-making and long-term collaboration.

All delegates also participated in the UK–Nigeria Business Forum, where discussions focused on strengthening business relationships, advancing commercial deals, and aligning investments with Nigeria’s development priorities.

With trade volumes reaching record levels and investor interest growing, the UK–Nigeria economic relationship is poised for deeper collaboration, with expectations that ongoing engagements will drive sustained investment, job creation, and shared economic growth.