WorldStage Newsonline– The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the Federal Government to turn global trade agreements into actionable gains with greater focus on boosting non-oil exports and intra-African trade.
Dr Chinyere Almona, Director-General, LCCI, made the call on Monday in Lagos in reaction to the outcomes of President Bola Tinubu’s recent diplomatic missions to Brazil and Japan.
Almona said given the persistent tariff tensions worldwide, the outcomes presented new trade opportunities worth exploring as Nigeria strove to push trade to new frontiers.
Already, Nigeria’s non-oil exports rose by 19.6 per cent to $3.225 billion in the first half of 2025, driven by global demand for products such as cocoa and urea/fertilizer, cashew nuts.
The LCCI Director-General stressed the need for the country to remain focused on supporting these statistics by creating new market routes to new trade partners.
According to her, an increase in non-oil exports to 4.04 million metric tons from 3.83 million tons shows an increased capacity to process non-oil exports and boost our export earnings.
She urged government to reach out to strategic partners that would place Nigeria in a stronger negotiating position when needed.
“LCCI commends the signing of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Brazil, which enables direct flights between the two nations.
“This agreement will expand export markets, boost tourism and cultural exchange, and unlock new trade routes for Nigerian businesses.
“Beyond aviation, it offers opportunities for technical partnerships in aircraft maintenance, aerospace engineering, and vocational training for Nigerian youth.
“BASA should not be just about flights, but about creating new pathways for trade, mobility, and job opportunities for Nigerian youths and must therefore be activated quickly and strategically,” she said.
Almona also lauded the 238 million dollars collaborative financing framework outcome of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) to upgrade the national electricity generation grid infrastructure.
She said the investment gestures from Japan and other economies would encourage Nigeria to equip its youth population with vocational and technical skills.
This, she added, would enable them capitalise on opportunities in labour-intensive sectors, such as those found in high-manufacturing countries like Japan.
Almona stated that Nigeria’s foreign policy must now focus on translating agreements into tangible outcomes.
She advised that the private sector be well-integrated in operationalising these agreements through follow-up mechanisms, setting clear timelines for implementation, and prioritising vocational and technical skills development in markets.
“Japan sees our youth as Africa’s biggest strength and Nigeria must equip its young people with the technical skills to compete globally.
“By combining visionary diplomacy with practical action, Nigeria can shift global perceptions from challenges to opportunities and rebrand itself as a reform-driven, youth-powered, and investment-ready economy,” she said.
