Cairo - Trade Minister Tarek Kabil said on Sunday that Nigeria agreed to lift a ban on Egyptian furniture exports after Egypt's efforts with the Nigerian side on this score. In a press release, the ministry said that Nigeria had banned Egyptian furniture exports since 2005. The minister said that the Egyptian Commercial Representation Office in Geneva had negotiated with the Nigerian delegation within the framework of the World Trade Organization to lift the ban. The step is considered a great opportunity for Egyptian furniture because the Nigerian market is one of the biggest African markets and economies especially that the population of Nigeria reaches about 180 million people, the minister said. He also urged all Egyptian furniture companies to take advantage of the opportunity and export to the Nigerian market.