The Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Abubakar Abba Bello, has detailed a three-pronged strategy to drive Nigeria toward a $1 trillion economy, revealing that the bank disbursed $108 billion to exporters in 2025.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN), Bello—represented by Babagana Musti—emphasized that the bank’s efforts are centered on empowering exporters, leveraging regional trade, and eliminating logistics bottlenecks.
Three Pillars for Economic Growth
NEXIM’s roadmap to the $1 trillion milestone focuses on the following critical areas:
- Exporter Empowerment: The bank is aggressively providing targeted, low-interest funding and guarantees to local businesses. “Our goal is to ensure that the ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ label is synonymous with global quality,” Bello stated, noting that de-risking export businesses allows SMEs and large firms to compete internationally.
- AfCFTA Leadership: Bello identified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a cornerstone for growth. He noted that NEXIM is facilitating cross-border trade to ensure Nigeria leads intra-African commerce rather than just participating in it.
- Infrastructure & Logistics: To remove bottlenecks, NEXIM is supporting the “Sealink Project,” which focuses on developing maritime and inland waterway infrastructure. This initiative aims to reduce the cost and time of moving goods, making the Nigerian economy more efficient for foreign direct investment.
Transparency and Media Partnership
Addressing the over 200 finance journalists and editors in attendance, Bello called for a partnership based on transparency. He urged the media to provide accurate reporting on the growth of the non-oil sector to build global investor confidence.
”When you report accurately on the growth of the non-oil sector, you are not just reporting an export; you are building the global investor confidence required to hit the $1 trillion economy,” Bello said.
The bank reaffirmed its commitment to an “open-door policy,” inviting constructive feedback and rigorous scrutiny of its programs to ensure the $1 trillion agenda remains on track.
