The United States has expressed its intention to deepen economic and strategic engagement with Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, with a focus on expanding American investment in Africa’s largest economy.
President Tinubu, currently in Paris, received Mr Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser for Africa to former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, during a high-level meeting on Thursday.
The engagement, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, centred on forging a stronger economic and security partnership anchored on mutual respect, shared prosperity, and regional stability.
Mr Boulos, representing Trump’s State Department-era diplomatic interests, conveyed the former president’s strong interest in strengthening ties with Nigeria as a cornerstone of U.S. policy in Africa. He highlighted areas of priority, including the expansion of American investment in Nigeria’s energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors, as well as enhanced cooperation on trade and job creation.
“The United States wants to work closely with President Tinubu to unlock opportunities for both countries,” Boulos said, emphasising America’s recognition of Nigeria’s role as a regional power and a stabilising force on the continent.
The meeting also addressed pressing regional security challenges, with both sides exchanging perspectives on peace efforts in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and across the Sahel region.
Boulos affirmed support for President Tinubu’s leadership within ECOWAS and broader African diplomatic efforts, particularly his interventions aimed at fostering stability in volatile regions.
President Tinubu welcomed the U.S. overture and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to building productive alliances rooted in transparency, opportunity, and shared outcomes. “Nigeria is ready to work with international partners like the United States to drive inclusive development and ensure Africa occupies its rightful place in the global economy,” he said.
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