Nigeria and the United States have intensified economic collaboration in agriculture, digital economy, and infrastructure, aiming to deepen bilateral trade over the next five years, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, has said.
Speaking at the second ministerial meeting of the Nigeria–U.S. Commercial and Investment Partnership (CIP) held in Lagos, Oduwole noted that Nigeria’s priority is accelerating non-oil export diversification and ensuring broader access for Nigerian businesses to U.S. markets in a competitive, sustainable, and inclusive manner.
The CIP, signed in July 2024, is designed to strengthen trade and investment between the two countries over a five-year period.
Oduwole highlighted that the government will collaborate closely with the private sector under the CIP in three core areas: infrastructure, agriculture, and digital technology/digital trade. She said:
“These are areas where both economies are strong, and we are working collaboratively to support our private businesses to welcome investment into these sectors across Nigeria and for U.S. businesses to benefit from trading with Nigeria. Nigerian businesses are also looking for market access, and we will ensure that the collaboration – whether in trade in goods or trade in services – builds our infrastructural footprint and remains mutually beneficial.”
She added that the focus areas were chosen by the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and align with the ministry’s objective of non-oil diversification.
The minister also pledged to help the private sector scale globally in services, technology, and agriculture with U.S. support, noting that America is a world leader in agriculture. She revealed that her ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, had undertaken a tariff review to recalibrate trade measures that combat food inflation, improve access to essential inputs, and strengthen domestic value chains.
“This is part of a wider effort to modernise trade policy, expand market access, and improve industrial competitiveness. We are building a $1 trillion economy anchored on industrial value creation, competitive exports, resilient institutions, and deep capital markets,” Oduwole said.
Also present, Brad McKinney, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. Department of Commerce, reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to move the partnership from dialogue to outcomes, describing the ministerial meeting as evidence that the initiative is on track.
The CIP is expected to enhance bilateral cooperation, boost non-oil exports, strengthen domestic production, and create predictable conditions for trade and investment between Nigeria and the United States.
