Nigeria’s trade relationship with the United States gained momentum in 2025, with total bilateral trade rising by 14 per cent to nearly $15 billion, making the country the second-largest trading partner of the U.S. in Sub-Saharan Africa.
This was disclosed by the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, Keith Heffern, during the celebration of the 250th Independence Day of the United States held at the residence of the U.S. Consul General in Lagos.
Heffern attributed the growth in trade volumes to expanding investments, stronger collaboration between businesses in both countries and growing commercial opportunities across critical sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
He said the U.S. was placing greater emphasis on trade and investment as the cornerstone of its engagement with African countries, stressing that Lagos remained central to that vision because of its thriving business environment and innovation ecosystem.
“As the United States places trade and investment at the heart of our engagement across Africa, dynamic cities like Lagos with its energy, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit play a critical role in driving economic growth and expanding commercial ties between our two nations.
“Nigeria is now the United States’ second largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2025, two-way trade between our countries reached nearly $15 billion, a 14 per cent increase over 2024! These aren’t just numbers. With more than 100 U.S. companies operating in Nigeria, they represent jobs, opportunities, and economic transformation for Americans and Nigerians,” he said.
According to Heffern, the U.S. Mission is working closely with Nigeria’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to strengthen commercial relations through the five-year U.S. Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership.
He explained that the initiative, now in its second year, has become a major platform for fostering economic cooperation between both countries by bringing together government and private sector stakeholders to address obstacles limiting trade and investment.
“As a private sector-led initiative, we have nearly 50 U.S. and Nigerian companies uniting business leaders and policymakers to remove barriers to trade and investment. In January, Lagos hosted the first ministerial-level meeting under the partnership.
“Through this partnership, we have advanced cooperation in three strategic sectors: agriculture, the digital economy and infrastructure, to drive long-term growth and shared prosperity,” he stated, noting that beyond economic cooperation, both countries have continued to strengthen security collaboration as part of efforts to create a more stable environment capable of attracting investment and supporting sustainable growth.
