Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The United States and Nigeria have intensified efforts to close Nigeria’s widening protein deficit through stronger agricultural trade, focusing on US soybean exports.
At the “Nigeria: NOW” conference hosted by the US Soybean Export Council in Lagos, stakeholders including poultry producers, nutritionists, and agribusiness leaders gathered to find practical solutions.
Acting US Consul General, Lagos, JoEllen Gorg, described the event as “a pivotal milestone in creating a pathway for mutual prosperity and shared economic success.”
Gorg explained that by tackling Nigeria’s protein gap and promoting best practices, the US Soy industry is working to build “a resilient agricultural sector in Nigeria, ensuring long-term food security and economic stability.” She added,
“This partnership is crucial in helping export-ready US companies build business relationships with Nigerian agribusinesses, training Nigerians in new agricultural practices, and promoting the use of US soy in Nigeria’s feed and food industries.”, Gorg noted.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and Lagos Commissioner for Agriculture & Food Systems Abisola Olusanya attended the event, underscoring the collaboration’s national importance.
With local soybean production still falling short—Nigeria imported 62,100 metric tons of US soybeans in 2024 after a six-year break—stakeholders called the renewed trade a positive step.
USSEC CEO Jim Sutter said, “US Soy is at the forefront of collaborating with its partners as a reliable supplier,” while US Soy farmer Robert Alpers added, “I’m proud to be playing my role in helping to feed the world sustainably.”
