The volume of bilateral trade between Nigeria and the Philippines has increased by 700 per cent over the last three years.

The Philippines’ ambassador to Nigeria, Mersole Mellejor, disclosed this on Wednesday during the country’s 128th independence anniversary celebration in Abuja.

According to him, the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries rose from a modest $47 million in 2023 to $300 million in 2025 and that both countries have maintained cordial relations and are working to expand cooperation in other areas for mutual benefit. 

He also mentioned that Nigeria and the Philippines were seeking to strengthen their longstanding diplomatic ties in education, trade and investment.

“The level of bilateral trade is modest by today’s standards, but it has shown remarkable potential, having expanded consistently over the last three years. That is about a 700 per cent increase, and we remain focused on encouraging partnerships between Philippine and Nigerian companies,” Mr Mellejor said.

The ambassador also disclosed that plans were underway to establish a Nigeria-Philippines Business Council to strengthen business ties and unlock trade opportunities between the two countries.

“This is to ensure that business between the two countries is conducted in a more organised manner and to enable players on both sides to leverage their strengths,” Mr Mellejor said.

Mr Mellejor also highlighted the growing educational ties between the two nations, noting that over 9,000 Nigerians are currently pursuing higher education in the Philippines. He further said that people-to-people exchanges were one of the strongest pillars of bilateral relations, adding that cultural ties between the two countries continued to expand.

“Afrobeats is popular in the Philippines, while Filipino soap operas have found a strong fan base in Nigeria,” Mr Mellejor said.

(NAN)