Nigeria's Agricultural Imports Drop 8.5% to N2.03tn in H1 2026

Nigeria's agricultural imports fell by 8.5% year-on-year to N2.03 trillion in the first half of 2026, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The imports were valued at N827.72 billion in Q1 and N1.20 trillion in Q2.

This combined figure is lower than the N2.22 trillion recorded in the same period of 2025. Although there was a 45.4% increase in agricultural imports from Q1 to Q2, it was insufficient to surpass the previous year's total.

Agricultural products accounted for 6.08% of total imports in Q1 2026, decreasing from 6.71% a year earlier, but rose to 8.35% in Q2. The decline in imports coincided with increased exports of agricultural commodities, such as cocoa and sesame, which are vital for Nigeria's non-oil trade.

The NBS reported that 25.34 million people were engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fishing in 2023, representing 30.1% of the workforce, highlighting the sector's significance in employment.