Lack of transparency, corruption that hinders trade, investments in Nigeria, says Us – Thage

By Victor Osula, Abuja

The United States Office (Ustr) has identified corruption and lack of transparency in Nigeria’s tender processes as important obstacles to exchanges and investments in the country.

According to the Usr, Nigeria has not yet acted on various suspended requests regarding food and agricultural imports from the United States despite repeated efforts to guarantee market access.

“US companies live difficulties in daily operations following inappropriate requests from officials for” facilitative “payments. The efforts to strengthen antibody measures have been hindered by inter-ministerial and partisan political fights,” said the USTR in its reporting of the national trade of 2025.

The report observed that since 2019 the United States has tried to negotiate import permits for different categories of US food and agricultural products, but Nigeria has been slow to approve these requests.

“Nigeria is incompatible in the implementation of technical regulations and health and phytosanitary measures, which creates confusion and undermines compliance,” he added.

It also stressed that Nigeria maintains a combined duty and associated import fees of 50 % or more on 79 tariff lines, including 17 tariff lines in which combined offices reach or exceed the 70 % limit established by Ecowas.

In addition, the Usr report observed that the ability of the Nigerian judicial system to reach convictions and an adequate sentence for crimes related to corruption remains a great challenge that hinders trade and investments.

“Applications for the ability of the Nigerian judicial system to reach convictions and adequate convictions for crimes related to corruption,” he said.

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