On September 25–26, 2025, the U.S. Mission’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) office in Lagos partnered with the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce’s (NACC) Kaduna Chapter and the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) to host a “Discussion Roundtable on Innovative Approaches to Agricultural Trade for Economic Growth and Food Security.”
The event was attended by Nigerian agricultural trade policy advisors, legislator representatives, agribusiness leaders, researchers, regulators, and U.S. agricultural trade associations.
The discussions focused on the impacts of Nigeria’s agricultural trade restrictions on food prices, local production, and investment. Experts presented on innovative approaches to agricultural trade that have successfully been used in other countries and could be adapted in Nigeria to support its economic growth and food security goals.
The event featured the presentation of Nigerian-led research conducted in consultation with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) on the impact of Nigeria’s agricultural trade restrictions on food prices, local production, and value-added processing. Key findings from the NIPSS research highlighted the adverse effects of agricultural trade restrictions, including increasing food prices for consumers, shifting trade to informal channels which reduce government revenues and decrease food safety oversight, and a lack of regulatory clarity for Nigerian agribusinesses engaged in trade.
Recommendations included adjusting trade restrictions to ensure long-term stability of food prices and raw material availability. Experts presented case studies of innovative agricultural trade practices, such as tariff rate quotas and a private-sector led export trading company mechanism that transparently values and distributes the financial benefits of an import quota to domestic stakeholders for scientific, educational, or promotional programs.
During the event, Matthew Obogbaimhe, Chairman of NACC’s Kaduna Chapter, shared that “Revitalizing Nigeria’s agricultural sector requires more than trade restrictions; it demands innovation, sustainable practices, and investment in infrastructure. This vision is why the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce chose to partner with FAS to drive agricultural innovation and trade across Africa.”
“The roundtable provided a unique platform to exchange ideas and explore innovative agricultural trade policies that benefit the consumers and farmers from Nigeria and the United States,” said Christopher Bielecki, Agricultural Counselor for the FAS office in Lagos.
“By fostering dialogue, we discussed innovative solutions to strengthen agricultural trade, reduce costs for agribusinesses and consumers, and drive prosperity for American and Nigerian farmers.
NABG Director General, Jafar Umar, noted “As the leading voice of agribusiness in Nigeria, we believe this roundtable is both timely and highly relevant to the national discourse on advancing trade and strengthening food security. We are happy to partner with FAS on this important initiative, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration through many more impactful engagements in the future.”
The U.S. Mission’s Foreign Agricultural Service office in Lagos looks forward to continued collaboration with the Government of Nigeria and agribusiness stakeholders to translate the Roundtable’s recommendations into action. By working together to advance innovative agricultural trade policies, the United States and Nigeria can foster greater food security, create opportunities for valued-added processing, investment, and strengthen trade for our agricultural sectors.
