Tuggar Urges U.S. to Partner Anchor States, Invest in Nigeria

Tuggar Urges U.S. to Partner Anchor States, Invest in Nigeria

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has called on the United States to deepen its engagement with Africa by working with anchor states, stressing Nigeria’s strategic role as the continent’s natural hub for business partnerships.

Speaking at a high-level roundtable organized by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Tuggar urged Washington to recalibrate its Africa policy and expand investment ties with Nigeria.

“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 said.

The roundtable, which was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and top executives of leading U.S. companies, focused on investment opportunities in priority sectors including energy, agriculture, technology and finance.

Tuggar emphasized that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is committed to advancing economic diplomacy, improving the business climate, and ensuring that global partnerships deliver tangible benefits to citizens.

He pointed to Nigeria’s youthful population, ongoing economic reforms, and continental leadership as factors positioning the country as Africa’s premier hub for global investment.