Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has unveiled plans to expand the country’s exports of refined petroleum products and urea fertiliser to Mexico as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and generate foreign exchange.
Omokri disclosed this after meeting with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other lawmakers at the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said arrangements were underway for Mexican officials to visit the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to explore opportunities for commercial cooperation and possible supply agreements.
The ambassador revealed that Nigeria was already exporting urea fertiliser to Mexico, although the current volume remained relatively small compared with the country’s potential.
According to him, Nigeria could increase its market share by supplying fertiliser at competitive prices while exploring opportunities to export refined petroleum products and other industrial goods.
Omokri stressed the need for Nigeria to move beyond exporting raw materials and focus more on processing, manufacturing and exporting finished products.
He also highlighted maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea as an important factor in strengthening Nigeria’s position as a reliable supplier to international markets.
During the meeting, Akpabio pledged the Senate’s support for economic diplomacy and stronger commercial relations between Nigeria and Mexico. He also proposed the establishment of a Nigerian-Mexican parliamentary friendship group to promote legislative cooperation.
The proposed engagement comes as Nigeria seeks to expand its non-crude exports, attract foreign investment and establish new markets for products from its growing domestic industrial and refining sectors.
However, the scale of future petroleum and fertiliser exports will depend on commercial negotiations, market demand, pricing and the ability of Nigerian producers to meet international supply requirements.
