Nigeria is seeking to expand its export market in Mexico, with Ambassador-designate Reno Omokri disclosing plans to increase shipments of refined petroleum products and urea fertiliser to the North American country.
Omokri said arrangements were underway for Mexican officials to visit the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to explore potential trade partnerships and opportunities for economic cooperation between both countries.
He disclosed this after a meeting with Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday.
The envoy said Nigeria was already exporting urea fertiliser to Mexico but maintained that the volume remained significantly below the country’s export potential.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria could increase its market share by supplying the product at competitive prices, particularly amid insecurity and conflicts affecting some of Mexico’s existing suppliers.
“We are already exporting urea fertiliser to Mexico. A lot of people do not know that. But the thing is, we are really doing very little,” Omokri said.
He added that Nigeria was better positioned to supply fertiliser to Mexico at affordable rates.
The ambassador-designate explained that the proposed expansion of trade relations was part of efforts by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to move the country away from dependence on raw material exports towards the production and export of finished goods.
According to him, Nigeria has the capacity to become a major supplier of industrial and petroleum products to the Mexican market.
Omokri also identified maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea as an advantage for Nigeria’s export ambitions, noting that relative stability in the region would support the movement of goods and strengthen the country’s position as a reliable trading partner.
He disclosed that he had visited the Dangote Refinery and held discussions with its owner, Aliko Dangote, on possible areas of cooperation with Mexican businesses.
“There is already an invitation for the Mexicans to visit the refinery for a tour,” he said.
Reacting, Akpabio urged the envoy to prioritise economic diplomacy and ensure that his appointment delivered tangible benefits to Nigeria.
He said Nigerian diplomatic missions should focus on attracting investments, expanding export opportunities and strengthening commercial relationships with other countries.
The Senate President also disclosed that the National Assembly was considering a visit to Mexico to establish a Nigerian-Mexican parliamentary friendship group aimed at promoting legislative exchanges and bilateral cooperation.
Akpabio, who received Omokri alongside Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and other lawmakers, congratulated him on his appointment and commended Tinubu for nominating him.
He said the Senate had facilitated Omokri’s confirmation in the interest of executive-legislative cooperation and Nigeria’s international relations.
Akpabio further praised the Dangote Refinery, describing it as a major industrial investment capable of strengthening Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity and export earnings.
He also highlighted the National Assembly’s support for the naira-for-crude arrangement, which was introduced to facilitate crude oil supply to local refineries and reduce their exposure to foreign exchange challenges.
The Senate President maintained that increasing domestic crude oil production would help ensure adequate feedstock for local refineries while allowing Nigeria to earn foreign exchange through exports.
He urged Omokri to use his diplomatic assignment to advance Nigeria’s economic, political and commercial interests in Mexico.
The proposed refinery visit and expansion of fertiliser exports are expected to provide opportunities for stronger trade relations between both countries, although the volume of future transactions will depend on commercial agreements, market demand and the competitiveness of Nigerian products.
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