The United States and the Nigerian government have officially launched the Working Group Meeting of the US-Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership (CIP).
The US Mission in Nigeria, in a statement on Tuesday, said the launch took place in Abuja with the senior representatives of both countries.
It stated that the landmark partnership, established under a five-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2024 by US Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, and Nigeria’s former minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, is aimed at deepening bilateral commercial cooperation and expanding economic opportunities in both nations.
Four senior US and Nigerian officials who led the dialogue, include; Ambassador Richard Mills, US Ambassador to Nigeria, US Department of State, Julie LeBlanc, Senior Commercial Officer, US Department of Commerce, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, and Ambassador Nura Rimi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.
In his comment during the inauguration, Richard Mills said, “The Commercial and Investment Partnership, or CIP, is one of the top priorities of my tenure as US 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.”
On his part, US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Middle East and Africa, Thomas Bruns, stated, “The US-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 US Government’s voice for the US private sector, we are thrilled to launch these working groups with our Nigerian counterparts.
“The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration is proud of its work to foster international commerce, and, as the US Government’s voice for the US 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 US and Nigerian principals agreed to review progress on a biannual basis and to identify future areas of cooperation.
The statement noted that inaugural discussions focused on three working groups: agriculture, the digital economy, and infrastructure. The working groups—comprised of US and Nigerian private sector participants—began their work by nominating group leads and identifying non-tariff barriers to trade and investment. Their goal is to foster job creation, encourage private sector engagement, and recommend solutions to policymakers to address key challenges in these critical sectors.
It revealed that the next formal meeting of the CIP will take place in between September and December 2025.