The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Promotion Group (MANEG) has reiterated that the threat by the United States President Donald Trump to impose an additional 10 percent trade tariff on countries aligning with BRICS countries offers an opportunity for Nigeria to boost its intra-African trade by prioritising the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), but warned that it could harm the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
Last week, it could be recalled that Trump threatened to impose additional tariffs on countries aligning with the BRICs nations which comprise Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, citing “Anti-American policies of BRICS”, and since Nigeria is one of the countries concerned, having been formally admitted as the ninth BRICS partner country in January 2025, a status introduced at the 16th BRICS Summit in October 2024.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Nigeria’s trade with BRICS nations stood at N5.41 trillion in the first quarter of 2025 (Q1’25), compared to N1.54 trillion in exports to the United States.
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According to Dr. Benedict Obhiosa, Executive Secretary of MANEG, Nigeria can leverage this situation to explore new export markets and trade partnerships while emphasizing value addition to raw materials. “Nigeria can boost intra-African trade by prioritizing AfCFTA, exploring new export markets and trade partnerships, and emphasizing value addition to raw materials, which benefits the economy by creating jobs,” Obhiosa stated.
Obhiosa also noted that Nigeria can turn the challenges of tariffs into opportunities for economic growth and sustainability by implementing strong strategies. “Through the implementation of these strong strategies, Nigeria can build a resilient, self-sufficient economy that improves its global position,” he added.
However, Obhiosa cautioned that the tariffs could disrupt trade relations and harm key sectors of the economy, such as agriculture and manufacturing. “If implemented, the tariffs may strain Nigeria’s relationship with the US, potentially disrupting the import of essential goods like pharmaceuticals and agricultural products,” he said.
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