Rapidbills
Hey, I want to show you ways to earn reasonable money this year, and these methods won't cost you so much to get started. There are several, but I’ve hand-picked the easiest and the quickest to get you to your desired goals quickly.
With the way Naira is doing press-ups every week like a soldier from Maiduguri is giving it punishment, it's only wise to position yourself in businesses that bring in steady dollars. So stick around and I will be showing you six solid businesses you can start in Nigeria in 2025 that will have you cashing out in USD.
Nigeria is blessed with natural resources and well-sought-after agricultural products; exporting them is one way to make money in dollars. If the Nigerian government can make billions from crude oil exports, you too can get a slice of the export market. The best part? You don’t need to be a millionaire to start.
Do you know that Europe and Asia love our charcoal like we love Jollof rice? Charcoal is used for heating and cooking in many countries, and Nigeria is one of the largest producers. The demand is high, and exporting it can fetch you serious forex.
Source Charcoal Locally: Major producing states include Oyo, Ogun, Nasarawa, and Kaduna. You can buy from wholesale suppliers or the local producers themself.
Packaging for Export: Charcoal is usually weighed and packed in 25kg to 50kg sacks and stacked in containers before exporting them.
How to find International Buyers: Platforms like Alibaba, ExportHub, and TradeKey are great for connecting with global buyers.
How to get paid: Secure payments through escrow services or, better still, get your money through Letters of Credit, PayPal, or direct bank transfers.
I like this one, maybe because I like cashew and Garri also, the global demand for cashew nuts is booming, and Nigeria is one of the top producers. Our cashew nuts are of the highest quality, making them highly sought after by buyers in India, Vietnam, and the U.S.
Gather Cashew Nuts: You can source them in abundance from Nasarawa, Kogi, and Oyo states. It will be an advantage if you already reside in these states, meaning you would be familiar with the terrain and language, making it easier for you to relate to the people/farmers.
Storage & Packaging: Store in jute bags to maintain freshness and prevent moisture damage.
Export Markets: Major importers include India, the UAE, the U.S., and the Netherlands.
How to Sell: Join local cashew export associations or list on B2B marketplaces like Alibaba.
Palm oil is often called "red gold" because of its high value in the international market. Countries in Europe and the U.S. import Nigerian palm oil for food and cosmetics. Nigerians abroad also crave quality palm oil for their local dishes.
Source Palm Oil Locally: You can buy in bulk from palm oil mills in Edo, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, and Delta states. I know you can equally source in Enugu and Kogi state, but I’m not so certain of the commercial quantity there.
Packaging for Export: Store in 25L to 50L plastic containers for easy transportation.
Find Buyers: Depending on the scale you want to start, one easy way is to export palm oil for food; all you do is target African market shop owners in the US and Europe, these people are ready to buy, and you would be able to send it to them easily.
Secure Payments: You can get paid by using escrow services, or if there is some level of relationship between you and the buyers, use methods like wire transfers, Letters of Credit, and bank transfers
Note: You can also use this method to sell other African food, skincare and natural remedies like Ogbono, Ijebu Garri, Shea Butter, Black African soaps and the like internationally to earn money.
Get a reliable supplier.
Register with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
Find international buyers on platforms like Alibaba, ExportHub, and Tradekey.
Partner with a logistics company that can handle international shipping.
If you enjoy spending time on Twitter (sorry, X), Instagram, and TikTok, why not make money from it? Businesses are constantly looking for social media managers who can help them grow their brands and engage with audiences. This can be you if you position yourself properly.
Learn the basics: I know you are doing it for fun, and you do not want to complicate what you do to unwind, well, we are talking about money-making here and doing a little learning won't kill. You just need to get your hands dirty with some knowledge about social media ads, content strategy, and how to grow your audience. That's all, other technical kinds of stuff come later when the money starts rolling in.
Now that you know the basics, You can offer your services on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour or LinkedIn.
You Should Create a killer portfolio: Using the basics spoken of, you can run your social media page successfully, this is your first CV for companies to hire you, also, you might even turn a social media celebrity if you know what you are doing.
Finally, to get the money rolling: Reach out to small businesses in the U.S. and UK, many of whom are happy to outsource their social media management.
Do You Know: Businesses pay $500 - $2000 per month for social media managers. Just two or three clients and you’re earning millions of naira per month!
Can you write engaging SEO optimized articles, or maybe you are great at making videos or graphics. In this our generation, content is king, and if you are good at creating what others like to engage with you can get the money in super fast with a little refining and consistency.
YouTube/Facebook/TikTok: People like Mr. Macaroni and Broda Shaggi are making thousands of dollars from YouTube by creating those funny skits you enjoy so much. To add to the inflow, Facebook has equally started monetizing African content creators and let me not leave out TikTok that's another money printing machine if you know what you are doing. All you need to do is start creating valuable content in any area of interest (tech, business, entertainment, finance) and build your audience.
Freelance Writing: You can get paid in dollars by writing blog posts, product descriptions, and web content for foreign clients, yes, you get these kinds of jobs on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr and the likes of it.
Graphic Design & Video Editing: You know how to use Canva, Photoshop, CoreDraw and other video and photo editing tools and you are still broke? Don’t you know businesses, churches, and event organizers need these visuals? Refine your skills to compete with the best designers out there, especially if you can design logos, edit videos, or create marketing content, you can earn good money.
Tip: Another way to increase your inflow as a graphic designer is learning UI and product design, especially with tools like Figma, and you can expand your client base.
You can find jobs on: Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com
For YouTubers: YouTube AdSense will start paying you once you hit 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours.
For writers, you can use platforms like Medium Partner Program and AdSense (if you own a blog and allow Google to put ads on it) to get paid for your articles.
Data is life, as we commonly say in Nigeria, and with over 120 million internet users in Nigeria, the demand for data is crazy. And guess what, you can make money reselling data?
Buy data at cheap rates from bulk vendors like RapidBills.ng (you can use the website or download the Android app from the Play Store).
Resell to individuals and businesses at a profit.
Advertise on WhatsApp, Telegram, and social media.
Make clean, sharp profit.
This business runs 24/7, requires low capital, and guarantees steady cash flow. Plus, once you build your customer base, your phone will keep beeping with credit alerts!
Nigerians love affordable but quality products, and mini importation is one of the best ways to make money in Nigeria without owning a shop or importing a full container load of goods.
You don’t need millions to start—just a small capital, a sharp eye for trending products, and a reliable supplier. Think of mini importation like mini skirts—small but very effective. No long thing!
Find Hot-Selling Products
Check trending items on 1688.com, Alibaba, Aliexpress, and Temu.
Look for items that solve everyday problems: portable blenders, car trackers, smartwatches, wireless earbuds, hair straighteners, and skincare tools.
Visit TikTok and Instagram trends to see what people are raving about.
Source Products from Reliable Suppliers
Use platforms like Alibaba, 1688.com (I believe this is cheaper than Alibaba) or Aliexpress.
Find shipping agents like Seko Logistics, DGL Express, DHL, or Chrisvic Mall to handle delivery to Nigeria.
Import Without Stress
For Smaller items, you can use air shipping (this can take up to 5–10 days).
For bigger products Sea shipping is cheaper but takes 4–6 weeks.
You should always factor in customs duties and shipping costs before setting prices.
Sell for Maximum Profit
Market your products on Instagram, Facebook Marketplace, WhatsApp, Jumia, Konga or you can create your own website which acts has a sales funnel.
Use TikTok for marketing: post product videos, run ads, and let customers see how the item works.
Offer "Pay on Delivery" to trusted or recurring customers: this boosts trust and sales.
Gadgets & Accessories (earpods, power banks, smartwatches)
Beauty & Skincare (organic creams, perfumes, facial cleansers)
Fitness & Wellness (waist trainers, supplements, yoga mats)
With mini importation, you can start with as low as ₦50,000 and scale up as your business grows. The profit margins are sweet!
We touch a little on this in the section on content creation, but I want to give you a little more in-depth knowledge because this is what I do. If you love writing like I do then you should own a blog and consistently create relevant articles, I must although warn you; blogging is a long-term way to earn dollars you don’t just start today and start earning in a week, you need to do the work, of creating content that answers people’s search queries.. Once you build a blog with high traffic, you can monetize through Google AdSense, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing.
Pick a niche (tech, finance, travel, entertainment).
Buy a domain & hosting (Namecheap, Domainking, Whogohost, etc).
Use WordPress to create your blog: I strongly advise you to use WordPress. There are free options like blogger.com or high-end ones like Squarespace, but use WordPress, it is not free, but it's worth it.
Write SEO-optimized Articles to attract international traffic.
Monetize with AdSense, Montage or other ad networks when your traffic grows.
You can also help promote other products through affiliate marketing and earn extra.
Do you know: A successful blog can make between $500 - $5000 per month. The key is consistency and patience.
You can start earning in dollars by offering services or selling products to international clients. Some of the easiest ways include freelancing (writing, graphic design, social media marketing), exportation (charcoal, palm oil, cashew), content creation on YouTube or blogging, and using platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and RapidBills.ng for services like data reselling.
Data reselling is one of the cheapest. With as little as ₦5,000 to ₦10,000, you can register on platforms like RapidBills.ng, buy SME data at wholesale rates, and resell for profit. Freelancing and social media marketing are also affordable if you already have a smartphone and internet connection.
Yes, you can run a small-scale export business from anywhere in Nigeria. You just need reliable suppliers, proper documentation (like NEPC registration), and trusted logistics partners. You can also connect with international buyers through websites like Alibaba and ExportHub.
Blogging and YouTube are long-term businesses. It can take 3–6 months or more of consistent posting before you start earning, especially through Google AdSense or affiliate marketing. However, once your content gains traction, the income becomes steady and can even grow exponentially.
Popular platforms that work well for Nigerians include:
Upwork
Fiverr
PeoplePerHour
Freelancer.com
Toptal
Absolutely! For example, you can start a blog while freelancing or combine data reselling with social media management. Just make sure to manage your time well and prioritize quality over quantity, and be consistent.
Making money in dollars while living in Nigeria is not just a dream it’s very possible. Whether you choose exportation, social media marketing, content creation, data reselling, mini importation, or blogging, you can start small and scale up. The key is to stay consistent, market yourself, and offer value.
And remember, in this 2025 economy, earning in naira alone is a risky business. Secure your dollar inflow and enjoy the soft life!
| © RapidBills