By Stella Odueme
The Federal Government has called on stakeholders in the agricultural value chain to support Nigeria’s participation in Fruit Logistica 2027 in Berlin, Germany, as part of efforts to expand agricultural exports, attract investment and strengthen the country’s position in the global fresh produce market.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, made the call at the Pre-Summit Meeting for Fruit Logistica 2027 held at the NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja.
Ogunbiyi described Fruit Logistica as the world’s leading trade fair for the fresh produce industry, covering the entire agricultural value chain from seed to sale.
In a statement by the Head of the Department of Information, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, on Wednesday, he said the annual event attracts more than 2,500 exhibitors from over 90 countries and more than 80,000 trade visitors, providing opportunities for participating countries to showcase their agricultural products, secure export partnerships, attract investments and adopt global best practices.
According to him, Nigeria’s participation in the event has been sustained for three consecutive years through the sponsorship and organisation of the national pavilion by ABG Paulus Limited.
He noted that countries such as Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and Ghana had maintained strong government-backed national pavilions, enabling them to secure long-term export contracts and expand their presence in international markets.
Ogunbiyi said Nigeria could not afford to lag behind its African counterparts, considering the significant contribution of agriculture to the national economy.
He disclosed that agriculture accounts for approximately 24 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and employs more than 30 per cent of the labour force, while the country’s share of global agricultural exports remains below two per cent.
The Permanent Secretary announced that Nigeria had been provisionally allocated a 120-square-metre national pavilion at Fruit Logistica 2027 at a cost of €145,000, subject to confirmation within the stipulated timeframe.
He explained that the pavilion would provide a unified platform for Nigerian exporters, agribusinesses and government institutions to display their products, engage international buyers and establish strategic business partnerships.
Among the commodities identified as having significant export potential are cocoa, valued at ₦154.3 billion in the second quarter of 2026; cashew nuts, valued at ₦268.6 billion; sesame seeds, valued at ₦96 billion; and ginger, which commands premium demand in the nutraceutical and spice markets because of its high gingerol content.
Other products include dried mango, pineapple, papaya, bananas, dates, coconuts and citrus fruits, which offer opportunities for Nigeria to expand its presence in high-value agricultural export markets.
Ogunbiyi described the pre-summit meeting as a national engagement platform for exporters, investors, commodity associations, chambers of commerce, financial institutions and development partners to explore export development, market access, investment promotion, value addition and technology transfer.
He commended the organised private sector for mobilising businesses across the country and urged stakeholders to create awareness, identify export-ready enterprises and facilitate business-to-business connections ahead of the international trade fair.
“This Pre-Summit is not merely a preparatory meeting; it is a launchpad for Nigeria’s agricultural transformation,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of ABG Paulus Limited, Mr. Ambrose Okojie, said Nigeria’s participation in Fruit Logistica was important to national economic growth because it would establish direct international trade connections for the country’s agricultural products.
He said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of diversifying the economy, increasing non-oil exports and promoting Nigerian agricultural produce in the global market.
Okojie called on the Federal Government, ministries, state governments and key industry stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to partner with the company and support Nigeria’s participation in Fruit Logistica 2027.
Earlier, the Director of the Agribusiness and Market Development Department, Mr. Ayodele Olawumi, said Nigeria’s agricultural sector remained vast and resilient, contributing nearly a quarter of the country’s GDP and sustaining millions of households.