Nigeria’s agro-exports face 30% rejection abroad, Sesame seed hit hardest
Poor storage, weak quality control, and compliance failures are costing exporters billions and threatening Nigeria’s standing in global agricultural markets.
Nigeria’s agricultural exports are running into serious trouble at foreign ports, and sesame seed is taking the hardest hit. Industry experts say about 30 percent of Nigeria’s agro-exports are rejected in international markets, a setback that is quietly costing Nigeria revenue, reputation, and market share.
The warning came from Dr Ofon Udofia, Executive Secretary of the Institute of Export Operations and Management Nigeria Limited, during a capacity-building programme, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. He said the problem is not that Nigeria cannot produce enough sesame seed and other produce, but that too many shipments fail to meet basic international requirements after harvest.
“About 30 percent of Nigeria’s agro exports are rejected abroad. Sesame seed records the highest rejection rate among exported produce,” Dr Udofia said.
Nigeria is one of the world’s major sesame producers, supplying markets in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East where the crop is used for oil, snacks, and industrial food processing. However, poor handling, contamination, excess pesticide residue, high moisture levels, and weak documentation often make consignments unacceptable to buyers.
Dr Udofia explained that most rejections come down to compliance failures. In many cases, produce like sesame seed leaves farms in good condition but deteriorate during storage, transport, or packaging. Without proper testing and traceability records, exporters struggle to prove that shipments meet safety standards.
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Mrs Ngozi Ibe, Regional Coordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council for the South-South, said post-harvest practices remain a major weak point. Improper storage, substandard facilities, and rough handling damage occur long before it reaches the port, reducing quality and shelf life.
Dr Madu Inani, Zonal Coordinator of the Nigerian Exporters Sanitary and Phytosanitary Inspection Regulation, said incubation centres approved by NESPRI and NAFDAC are helping some start-ups comply with international rules. But he noted that the support system is still too limited to transform the sector at scale.
The financial stakes are enormous. Dr Udofia pointed out that certain niche exports can command very high prices abroad. Fish bladder, for instance, can sell for about US$3,000 per kilogram, while palm kernel cake goes for around US$300 per metric tonne. Each rejected shipment represents lost foreign exchange and wasted effort across the supply chain.
Meanwhile, losses inside Nigeria are even more severe. The Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa estimates that the country recorded between ₦3.5 trillion and ₦5 trillion in post-harvest losses in 2025 alone. Its President, Alexander Isong, attributed this to weak storage systems, poor logistics, and the near absence of reliable cold chain infrastructure.
Nigeria is believed to lose between 30 million and 40 million metric tonnes of food every year, affecting tomatoes, fruits, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, and root crops. For farmers, that means investments in land preparation, fertiliser, labour, irrigation, and transport often yield little or no return.
The problem does not stop at exports. Domestic food supply is also under pressure. Experts warn that the 2026 lean season, typically between June and August, could be particularly difficult as rising input costs, insecurity, and persistent losses reduce the amount of food reaching markets.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation has warned that about 34.7 million Nigerians could face severe food insecurity without urgent intervention. Disruptions to farming activities, combined with massive losses after harvest, continue to weaken both national productivity and household access to food.
Taken together, the situation paints a worrying picture. Nigeria is losing food at home and losing markets abroad at the same time. Experts say the way forward is clear but urgent: better storage, stronger quality control, improved transport systems, and strict adherence to international standards. Without these changes, the country risks remaining a major producer that cannot reliably compete in global trade.
