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A total of N21.51tn was spent on the importation of various goods, including foodstuffs and other items, by Nigerians over the past four years, data from the National Bureau of Statistics has revealed.
The data indicates that despite efforts to boost local production, Nigeria’s dependence on imports continues to rise across multiple sectors.
Of the N21tn, N6.77tn was spent on the importation of prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits, vinegar, and tobacco during the period under review.
In 2020, a sum of N594.08bn was spent, rising to N903bn in 2021 and N976bn in 2022.
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The figure increased further to N1.51tn in 2023 and peaked at N2.79tn in 2024.
The importation of live animals and animal products also surged, with a total expenditure of N3.64tn over the past four years.
In 2020, imports in this category cost N454.52bn, followed by N551bn in 2021 and N549bn in 2022.
By 2023, spending had risen to N597bn, reaching N1.49tn in 2024.
Smaller import categories, such as footwear, headgear, umbrellas, and sunshades, recorded notable increases, with N23bn spent on these items in 2020.
It increased slightly to N26bn in 2021 and N25bn in 2022.
The upward trend continued with N28bn spent in 2023 and N65bn in 2024, bringing total expenditure in the category to N167bn over the period.
Plastic, rubber, and related articles accounted for the highest import expenditure, totalling N7.72tn.
In 2020, N609bn was spent, with imports rising to N1.16tn in 2021 and N1.19tn in 2022. The figure grew to N1.30tn in 2023 before surging to N3.46tn in 2024.
The importation of textiles, an industry in which Nigeria once thrived, saw a steady increase, with a total of N1.93tn spent within the four-year period.
The country imported N183bn worth of textiles in 2020, followed by N279bn in 2021 and N365bn in 2022.
Spending rose to N377bn in 2023 and reached N726bn in 2024.
Wood and wood-related articles, including charcoal, accounted for N909bn in imports.
In 2020, N52bn was spent, increasing to N59bn in 2021 and N106bn in 2022. The trend continued with N175bn spent in 2023, before peaking at N517bn in 2024.
The country also spent N373bn on the importation of raw hides, skins, leather, and saddlery products.
In 2020, the amount stood at N30bn, rising to N36bn in 2021 and N60bn in 2022. By 2023, N90bn had been spent, and the figure reached N157bn in 2024.
These figures highlight Nigeria’s continued reliance on imported goods despite policies aimed at boosting local production.
