Nigeria Emerges as Afreximbank’s Largest Beneficiary with $52bn Disbursement
Nigeria has received approximately $52bn in cumulative financing from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), making it the largest beneficiary of the bank’s trade and development support across the continent.
This was disclosed by Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board, Prof Benedict Oramah, during the bank’s Annual Meetings 2025 Signing Ceremony in Abuja.
“Nigeria has attracted a cumulative disbursement of about $52bn from Afreximbank,” Oramah stated. “It is the first beneficiary of several flagship transformative projects that the bank is piloting.”
He expressed appreciation for the Nigerian government’s continued support of the bank, particularly in responding positively to capital calls and addressing regulatory bottlenecks that could have hindered the bank’s operations. Nigeria’s contributions, he noted, had secured its strong influence in shaping Afreximbank’s policies and future direction.
Over the past decade, Afreximbank has disbursed at least $140bn across Africa, filling financing gaps left by the retreat of international banks from the continent. These interventions, Oramah explained, have not only driven economic transformation but also reduced Africa’s reliance on raw commodity exports.
The bank has played a pivotal role in advancing industrialisation and trade, with Nigeria being a major recipient of investments in critical sectors. Among the initiatives highlighted was the African Quality Assurance Centre, designed to ensure Nigerian goods meet international trade standards. The first centre is already operational in Kaduna, with additional facilities planned across Africa.
Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, acknowledged the country’s longstanding partnership with Afreximbank, describing its financial support as instrumental to Nigeria’s economic stability.
“Afreximbank has approved tens of billions in facilities to Nigeria over the years, and of course, we are grateful for that,” Edun said.
As Africa deepens its push for trade integration through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Nigeria’s strategic role as Afreximbank’s largest beneficiary underscores its central position in shaping the continent’s economic future.
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