The increasing success of Nigeria’s agricultural exports, according to agribusiness expert and StorGit co-founder John Dale, should serve as a wake-up call for locals to take control of the industry and keep the revenues domestically. He also noted that foreign companies, not Nigerians, stand to gain the most.
In a recent post, Dale urged wealthy Nigerians to take advantage of agricultural prospects and invest in the entire agricultural value chain, from farm to processing and export.
He claims that in 2025 alone, Nigeria exported more than $3.2 billion worth of non-oil items to markets as varied as the USA, India, and the Netherlands. He emphasized how trading within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has further expanded the market for Nigerian products throughout Africa.
“70% of those benefiting are foreigners. Last year, agricultural exports brought in trillions. But foreign middlemen took the lion’s share, leaving real farmers with barely enough to survive — not enough to grow.”
Although this appears to be a victory for Nigeria, Dale stressed that foreign players, not Nigerians, stand to gain the most.
He added that international firms, like India’s Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Singapore’s Olam, are among the nation’s biggest exporters and control the market with little to no local investment.
Dale’s essay highlighted how important supply chains, such as those operated by Chinese, Indian, Lebanese, and Dutch businesses, are controlled by foreign intermediaries, preventing the money from returning to Nigeria’s local economy.
He claims that local processors and small-scale farmers are frequently excluded from the wealth created by agricultural exports. “Most of this money never flows back to build our farms or factories. Grassroots farmers don’t see dividends. Local processors can’t expand,” he said.
The agribusiness expert went on to say that although exports raise local food prices, no direct investments are being made to safeguard the nation’s food supply or offset these costs. “The skills, systems, and market control sit in boardrooms from America to China to Europe — not here,” he remarked.
Dale urged Nigerians with money, including millionaires and those with the ability to pool resources, to take charge of the agricultural value chain. “That new car can wait. That holiday can wait. That extra house can wait. Gather your family and friends. Find foreign partners if you must. Pool your resources. Get into the agro value chain,” he said.
In his view, even small-scale operations can make a significant impact. “Many started small — one farm, one warehouse, one idea. They found their niche, moved fast, and scaled.
“If Nigerians don’t own the chain, Nigerians don’t own the gain. And we won’t control our food prices, our jobs, or our future,” he submitted.