Nigeria's imports of food and beverage have grown in value by 265% since 2020, reaching ₦6.6T in 2024

  • Nigeria’s food and beverage imports increased almost ninefold, from ₦0.7 trillion in 2013 to ₦6.6 trillion in 2024.
  • Imports remained relatively stable between 2015 and 2019, averaging around ₦1.1–₦1.6 trillion.
  • A major spike occurred in 2021, when imports surged by 62%, reaching ₦2.9 trillion.
  • Overall, the trend underscores Nigeria’s ongoing challenge of reducing dependency on imported food and beverages despite policies aimed at self-sufficiency.

Nigeria’s food and beverage imports have witnessed a significant rise over the past decade, growing from ₦0.7 trillion in 2013 to ₦6.6 trillion in 2024—an increase of nearly ₦6 trillion. This sharp growth highlights the country’s deepening reliance on imported consumables despite efforts to boost local production. The import value has surged in recent years, particularly between 2023 and 2024, when it jumped by an astounding 72% year-on-year, indicating intensifying demand pressures and possibly weaker domestic supply capacity.

Source:

National Bureau of Statistics

Period:

2013 - 2024
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Cocoa accounted for 4.6% of Nigeria’s 2024 exports, making it the country’s second-largest export after oil
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Nigeria's energy goods imports have stayed low and stable for 7 years, while exports increased from ₦37B to ₦263B
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For most of the period (2013-H1 2025), China's share of Nigeria's imports from Asia hovers around 50%-55%, showing dominance
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