Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has called on the United States to strengthen economic ties with Nigeria, stressing the country’s strategic role as an anchor state in Africa.
He made the remarks during a high-level roundtable hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. The forum brought together Vice President Kashim Shettima and senior executives of leading U.S. companies to explore investment opportunities in key Nigerian sectors such as energy, agriculture, technology, and finance.
Tuggar urged Washington to prioritize collaboration with anchor states to maximize impact.
“The United States should revert to working with anchor states in Africa, such as Nigeria. Our population, abundant resources, and continental scale make Nigeria a natural destination for U.S. business partnerships. Such collaboration will drive down costs, open access to a vast talent pool, and help integrate millions of informal businesses into the formal economy,” he said.
The Minister reaffirmed that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is committed to economic diplomacy, fostering an enabling business environment, and ensuring global partnerships translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s demographic advantage, ongoing reforms, and continental leadership as key factors positioning the country as Africa’s premier hub for global investment.
