Nigeria deepens trade and investment partnerships with EU and United States

Nigeria, the European Union and the Economic Community of West African States convened the 10th Nigeria‑EU Business Forum in Lagos, where EU High Representative Kaja Kallas described Nigeria as an “economic powerhouse” and urged European firms to invest in sectors such as agro‑processing, energy, digital economy and manufacturing. The forum highlighted the legal framework of ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area, offering access to a regional market of more than 400 million consumers and a continental market of over 1.4 billion people, and cited EU backing for projects like the Abidjan‑Lagos Corridor under the Global Gateway strategy.

In Abuja, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Keith Heffern announced a shift toward treating Nigeria as a key economic partner rather than a aid recipient. He emphasized mutual prosperity through trade, technology and investment, pointing to Nigeria’s growing population and projected $16 trillion purchasing power. Heffern also underscored the long‑standing security cooperation against terrorism in the Lake Chad basin, framing the partnership as a blend of economic and security collaboration.