The recent visits by high-ranking officials from the U.S. Department of State highlight the robust trade and investment relationships between the United States and Nigeria.
Between October 18 and 20, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (DAS) Joy Basu traveled to Abuja and Lagos with the aim of discussing specific enhancements to the business environment, endorsing positive economic reforms carried out by the Tinubu Administration, advocating for U.S. businesses looking to invest in Nigeria, and emphasizing opportunities to expand bilateral trade between the U.S. and Nigeria. DAS Basu is responsible for Economic and Regional Affairs in the Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs.
During her first visit to Nigeria, DAS Basu engaged with Minister of Health Muhammad Ali Pate and held meetings with government and private sector leaders in Abuja. She stressed the U.S. government’s eagerness to facilitate U.S. investments in Nigeria and highlighted the necessity for further reforms to create a transparent, reliable, and favorable investment environment.
In Lagos, she brought together women from small and medium-sized enterprises, banks, and venture capital firms to accelerate efforts in bridging the financing gap for women-led businesses. She also convened intellectual property lawyers, experts from the creative industry, and Nigerian content creators to brainstorm ways to better protect and monetize creative content. Her trip concluded with connecting U.S. technology startups with state government officials to explore opportunities for establishing a more connected and inclusive innovation ecosystem in Nigeria.
DAS Basu stated, “We are building upon the strong connections that exist between our nations – our companies, our entrepreneurs, and our people – to collaboratively find solutions to our shared challenges. We are eager to work together to discover and implement better paths forward, benefiting not only the people of Nigeria and America but also communities around the world.”
During her first visit to Nigeria, DAS Basu engaged with Minister of Health Muhammad Ali Pate and held meetings with government and private sector leaders in Abuja. She stressed the U.S. government’s eagerness to facilitate U.S. investments in Nigeria and highlighted the necessity for further reforms to create a transparent, reliable, and favorable investment environment.
In Lagos, she brought together women from small and medium-sized enterprises, banks, and venture capital firms to accelerate efforts in bridging the financing gap for women-led businesses. She also convened intellectual property lawyers, experts from the creative industry, and Nigerian content creators to brainstorm ways to better protect and monetize creative content. Her trip concluded with connecting U.S. technology startups with state government officials to explore opportunities for establishing a more connected and inclusive innovation ecosystem in Nigeria.
DAS Basu stated, “We are building upon the strong connections that exist between our nations – our companies, our entrepreneurs, and our people – to collaboratively find solutions to our shared challenges. We are eager to work together to discover and implement better paths forward, benefiting not only the people of Nigeria and America but also communities around the world.”
DAS Basu’s visit to Nigeria is a continuation of sustained and operationally-focused high-level interactions that have been ongoing for months, following the meeting between President Biden and President Tinubu at the G20 Summit in September. During that meeting, President Biden commended the Tinubu Administration’s efforts to reform Nigeria’s economy and expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his strong leadership as the chair of the Economic Community of West African States, particularly in upholding constitutional order and the rule of law in Niger and the wider region.
In recent months, the United States has consistently emphasized its enduring commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Nigeria relationship and enhancing the well-being of both nations through various engagements. This includes Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt’s visit to Nigeria on June 19, during which he established a bilateral Energy Security Dialogue to promote cooperation on mutual energy and climate objectives.
Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative Coordinator Dr. David Walton, and Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands concluded a joint visit to Nigeria from September 11 to 13, demonstrating a historic display of unity as the leaders of the largest donors supporting Nigeria’s efforts against HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo, the highest-ranking Nigerian-American official in the Biden-Harris Administration, conducted a visit to Nigeria from September 17 to 19. His visit aimed to foster business and investment connections, with a specific focus on entrepreneurship, youth development, and the empowerment of women.
On September 18, the United States and Nigeria, along with 32 other Atlantic countries, launched the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation during a ministerial meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This forum unites countries from Africa, Europe, North America, South America, and the Caribbean for collaborative problem-solving and the promotion of shared principles for cooperation in the Atlantic region. From October 2 to 4, Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation Ambassador Jessye Lapenn visited Nigeria, her first international destination after the launch, to explore opportunities in the fields of marine and blue economy.