Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has called on the United States to prioritise stronger partnerships with major African countries, stressing that Nigeria remains central to the continent’s growth and development.
The minister made the appeal on Wednesday, September 24, at a roundtable hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding, BCIU, held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Vice President Kashim Shettima and top executives from leading American companies were also in attendance, with discussions centred on investment prospects in Nigeria’s vital sectors such as energy, agriculture, technology, and finance.
Tuggar noted that Washington’s engagement with Africa would yield greater results by focusing on “anchor states” that have the scale to drive regional progress.
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According to him, “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 a collaboration will drive down costs, allow access to a vast talent pool, and help integrate millions of informal businesses into the formal economy.”
He highlighted that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is pursuing economic diplomacy, making the business environment more attractive, and ensuring that international alliances bring real benefits to its citizens.
Tuggar further pointed to Nigeria’s demographic advantage, ongoing economic reforms, and continental leadership as reasons the country stands out as a strategic hub for investment and cooperation in Africa.