Senior representatives of the United States and Nigerian governments, along with business leaders from both countries’ private sectors, convened in Abuja to officially launch the working group meetings of the United States–Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership (CIP).
The Partnership, established under a five-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2024 by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Nigeria’s former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, seeks to strengthen bilateral commercial cooperation and broaden economic opportunities in both nations.
According to a statement issued Tuesday by the U.S. Embassy, the dialogue was led by four senior officials: U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills, Senior Commercial Officer from the U.S. Department of Commerce Julie LeBlanc, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Nura Rimi.
Ambassador Mills, in his remarks during the inaugural session, said, “The Commercial and Investment Partnership, or CIP, is one of the top priorities of my tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, so it gives me immense pleasure to see the launch of the working groups come to fruition. The CIP underscores the United States’ strong commitment to further enhancing our bilateral commercial and investment ties, fostering economic growth, and creating opportunities that benefit people across both our great nations.”
The initial discussions centered on three critical sectors: agriculture, the digital economy, and infrastructure. The working groups—comprising U.S. and Nigerian private sector representatives—began their sessions by nominating group leads and identifying non-tariff barriers to trade and investment. Their objective is to promote job creation, enhance private sector engagement, and propose policy solutions to address key challenges in these sectors.
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East and Africa, Thomas Bruns, emphasized the importance of the collaboration, stating, “The U.S.-Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership reflects our shared commitment to deepening economic ties, fostering innovation, and expanding opportunities for businesses in both nations. The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration is proud of its work to foster international commerce and, as the U.S. Government’s voice for the U.S. private sector, we are thrilled to launch these working groups with our Nigerian counterparts. By strengthening collaboration in sectors that are engines of growth for both our nations—including infrastructure, agriculture, and the digital economy—we can advance prosperity, create jobs, and build a foundation for sustainable economic growth that benefits our people and lasts for the long term.”
The four senior officials agreed to review progress biannually and explore additional areas of cooperation. The next formal CIP meeting is scheduled for Fall 2025.
