By Joy Baba-Yesufu
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening economic and trade relations with Canada, with plans to open new market access pathways for Nigerian products through an Afro-Caribbean Mart initiative in Toronto.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, stated this at the Nigeria–Canada Trade and Investment Summit & Awards (NICATISA) in Toronto.
He said the initiative would help Nigerian exporters, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), gain predictable access to Canadian retail shelves while reducing rejection rates.
“The goal is clear: no Nigerian product should miss a Canadian shelf because of solvable paperwork, unpredictable freight, or preventable standards gaps,” Rimi said.
Nigeria and Canada currently record two-way trade volumes of just over $3.5 billion annually, largely dominated by commodities.
Rimi emphasised that the focus must now shift to value-added exports such as processed foods, cosmetics, digital services and agro-products, alongside strategic collaboration in clean energy, advanced manufacturing and critical minerals.
He noted that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and industrial roadmap, Nigeria is pursuing economic diversification, boosting non-oil exports, and creating millions of jobs for youth and women.
Canada, he added, is a “natural partner” in this transformation, given its expertise in energy, agriculture, mining, and technology.
