Nigeria’s trade relations within Africa underwent a major shake-up in the second quarter of 2025, with Togo surpassing South Africa to become the country’s leading African trading partner, according to the latest Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Togo’s trade surge saw exports to Nigeria rise from N134.8 billion in Q1—where it ranked fourth—to N811.97 billion in Q2, accounting for 27.4% of Nigeria’s African exports. This includes N113.3 billion in crude oil and N698.7 billion in non-crude products, a six-fold increase reflecting Nigeria’s growing reliance on Togo’s re-export hub, notably the busy port of Lomé.

Imports from Togo also led at N211.99 billion, or 25.8% of African imports, cementing its dominance. South Africa, previously atop with N708.7 billion in Q1 exports from Nigeria, slipped to second with N473.65 billion—a 33% drop—while its imports to Nigeria fell from N125.38 billion to N115.15 billion.

Other shifts include Ivory Coast holding third place with N408.97 billion, Ghana climbing to fourth with N307.47 billion, and Mauritius entering the top five with N264.98 billion in non-crude exports. Senegal dropping to sixth, while newcomers Equatorial Guinea (N96.93 billion) and Ghana (N24.66 billion) joined the import top 10, replacing Angola.

Nigeria’s trade surplus widened 44.3% to N7.46 trillion, with exports at N22.75 trillion (up 10.5% from Q1) and imports at N15.29 trillion (down 0.9%), bolstering its external account.