Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has spotlighted deepening ties between the United Kingdom and Nigeria — emphasising that trade between the two countries is not only about oil, but also a broad flow of goods, services and human capital. His remarks came during an address at the ongoing Imo Economic Summit in Nigeria, where he acknowledged the longstanding and evolving economic relationship between the UK and Africa’s most populous nation.
Johnson told the audience, “I’m very proud of what we export to Nigeria — pharmaceuticals, services, automotive parts, and whisky — huge quantities of whisky.” On the flip side, he said Nigerians send “oil and gas; Nollywood movies; brilliant, brilliant doctors and nurses; technicians; and tech geniuses from Nigeria come to the UK, and we’re very grateful and honoured.”
Indeed, the most recent trade data between the UK and Nigeria supports Johnson’s claims of a multifaceted economic exchange. According to the 2025 UK–Nigeria Trade and Investment Factsheet published by the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), refined petroleum products now account for more than two-thirds of all UK goods exports to Nigeria.
Refined oil exports surged to £1.5 billion in the four quarters ending June 2025 — a 62.8% increase compared to the prior period, underscoring the growing volume of British petroleum products entering Nigeria. Meanwhile, total bilateral trade in goods and services between the two countries rose to £8.0 billion.
From Nigeria’s side, crude oil remains the country’s top export to the UK — valued at about £1.3 billion in the same period, accounting for the majority of Nigerian goods shipped to Britain.
Johnson’s reference to “brilliant doctors and nurses; technicians; and tech geniuses from Nigeria” touches on another dimension of the UK–Nigeria relationship: human capital and migration. Many skilled Nigerians work in the UK health, education, technology, and service sectors — contributing to the British economy while sending remittances and building skills that often benefit both nations.
Also notable is the cultural dimension: Nigeria’s booming entertainment industry (film, music, tech) exports value beyond crude, and this soft-power exchange echoes Johnson’s mention of “Nollywood movies.”
The timing of Johnson’s comments comes amid shifting global energy dynamics and increasing pressure on Nigeria’s refining capacity. Despite being one of the world’s largest crude producers, Nigeria has in recent quarters imported large volumes of crude or refined petroleum due to inconsistent domestic supply.
For the UK, the rising export of refined petroleum and industrial goods — rather than just general merchandise — to Nigeria signals a shift in the nature of the bilateral relationship. No longer purely reliant on raw materials and extractive exports, trade appears to be diversifying.
For Nigeria, the inflow of industrial goods, technology, and services means access to goods often required for modernization and infrastructure development. At the same time, continued export of oil — as well as contributions from diaspora professionals — keeps one of the economy’s main revenue streams alive.
Supporters of increased trade highlight the mutual benefit: the UK gains access to energy and raw materials, while Nigeria gets goods, services, investment, and human capital that can contribute to development. They argue that statements like Johnson’s reinforce that trade is not a zero-sum game — both countries stand to gain.
Critics, however, may view such remarks with caution, pointing out that Nigeria’s reliance on oil export continues to leave the economy vulnerable to global oil-price swings, while the influx of foreign industrial goods can undermine local manufacturing. Others may question how much of the so-called “exports to Nigeria” actually reach ordinary Nigerians versus elite importers or industrial users.
The recent data suggests that the trade dynamic between the UK and Nigeria is becoming more complex. With Nigeria’s local refining sector still struggling and the country increasingly importing crude oil to meet domestic demand, partnerships and trade with foreign suppliers remain important.
Nevertheless, for Nigeria to fully benefit, many experts argue this must be matched with stronger local industrial policy, investment in refining capacities, support for domestic manufacturing, and robust regulation to prevent over-dependence on foreign suppliers.
Johnson’s remarks, whether symbolic or strategic, serve as a reminder: modern trade relationships are rarely simple “give oil — get goods.” They are multi-layered ecosystems involving capital, talent, services, and long-term investment. For Nigeria and the UK — and for many such relationships globally — the challenge will be to make that ecosystem work for all parties.
