As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its independence on July 4, 2026, branded “Freedom 250,” it has also recalibrated how it engages the world. The emphasis has shifted from traditional aid and diplomacy toward commercial partnerships, investment flows, and private-sector-led growth.
Nigeria should not be a spectator in this transition. It should position itself as a central partner.
The timing is significant. Bilateral trade between Nigeria and the United States reached nearly $13 billion in 2024, while U.S. foreign direct investment stock in Nigeria rose to approximately $7.9 billion, a 25 percent increase over the previous year.
Nigeria is already America’s second-largest trading partner in Africa. Yet the structure of this trade remains narrow and vulnerable: crude oil accounts for roughly 65 percent of Nigeria’s exports to the United States, while non-oil exports remain limited at about 12 percent.
This imbalance highlights the real opportunity not simply
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