The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Abubakar Bello, announced that the bank disbursed a total of ₦179.79 billion to Nigerian exporters in 2025.
Bello made the disclosure at the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) held in Abuja, themed “Actualizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s $1tn Economy Agenda.” He was represented at the event by Dr. Babagana Musti, a Senior Manager in the bank’s Strategic Planning Department.
He explained that NEXIM Bank is actively empowering Nigerian exporters by providing targeted, low-interest financing and guarantees. The goal, Bello emphasized, is to ensure that the “Made in Nigeria” label represents high-quality products globally. By reducing the risks associated with export activities, the bank enables local businesses, from SMEs to large conglomerates, to compete effectively in international markets.
Bello stressed that achieving a $1 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) requires diversification. “We cannot float a trillion-dollar economy on a single commodity. The backbone of this vision is the Non-Oil Export Sector,” he said. He described NEXIM’s efforts as a daily commitment to unlocking the potential in Nigeria’s solid minerals, agriculture, and creative industries, transitioning the country from a resource-based economy to an export-led growth model.
Highlighting Nigeria’s role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Bello noted that the bank is facilitating cross-border trade and helping Nigerian businesses access new markets across the continent—from Accra to Cairo—thereby boosting wealth creation through a robust intra-African trade network.
He also urged journalists, particularly those affiliated with FICAN, to support the $1 trillion GDP vision by accurately reporting on the growth and achievements of the non-oil sector. “For the public and international investors to appreciate the milestones toward $1tn, we need your reporting. You are a massive intellectual engine of over 200 finance journalists and editors,” Bello said.
Reaffirming the bank’s commitment to transparency, he added, “NEXIM Bank maintains an Open-Door Policy. We encourage you to scrutinize our programs, highlight our successes, and provide constructive feedback. Accurate reporting on the non-oil sector is not just filing a story—it builds the global investor confidence essential to reaching the $1tn target.”