UK sends delegation to Nigeria, eyes record £8.1bn trade ties

Britain has completed its first trade and investment mission to Nigeria since the recent State Visit, dispatching 43 delegates from 30 British companies to Abuja to convert high-level diplomatic agreements into concrete commercial deals across priority sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The two-day mission, supported by the UK Department for Business and Trade and delivered by DMA Invest in partnership with the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), brought together British and Nigerian businesses to explore opportunities spanning infrastructure, energy and power, water and climate solutions, agriculture, finance, technology, aviation, logistics and professional services.

The mission comes as bilateral trade between both countries hits a record £8.1 billion, with Nigeria now established as the UK’s largest export market on the African continent.

All 43 delegates participated in a UK-Nigeria Business Forum alongside senior government representatives and private sector leaders from both countries, providing a platform for direct engagement, relationship-building and deal exploration anchored on Nigeria’s reform-driven economic priorities.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, described the mission as a demonstration of intent, saying it showed how strong political alignment was being translated into real commercial action.

“We are backing ambition with delivery and making clear that the UK is committed, engaged and ready to do business with Nigeria for the long term,” he said.

NIPC Chief Executive Officer, Aisha Rimi, said the mission was a timely step in converting the momentum from the State Visit into tangible investment outcomes, adding that strong interest from UK companies reflected growing confidence in Nigeria’s reform trajectory.

“We remain committed to working closely with our partners to ensure that these engagements result in sustainable investments, job creation, and inclusive economic growth for both countries,” she said.

Ronald Chagoury Jr., Vice-Chairman of Hitech and ITB, pointed to the successful close of a $1 billion ports transaction backed by UK Export Finance as evidence of what structured international partnerships could deliver within Nigeria’s infrastructure sector.

DMA Invest Chief Executive, Atam Sandhu, said the mission illustrated the value of bringing government, investors and delivery partners together in a structured, deal-focused environment, and expressed confidence that conversations initiated during the mission would accelerate projects toward investment and delivery.

The sectors targeted align closely with the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) framework, and organisers said the mission also sought to challenge outdated perceptions of Nigeria by highlighting its improving macroeconomic outlook and its emergence as a high-potential, reforming economy.