U.S. companies looking to expand into Nigeria should begin by reaching out to their domestic Commercial Service office to gather initial market research and learn about the resources and services available to them. Once Nigeria is identified as a viable market, they will be connected with the Commercial Service office in Lagos. From there, a team of U.S. Commercial Officers and local Commercial Specialists will offer further guidance and provide up-to-date market intelligence to support next steps on their export journey.

To establish a presence in Nigeria, U.S. companies are advised to partner with a locally registered agent or distributor. Given Nigeria’s large size and diverse population, many foreign manufacturers and suppliers work with multiple agents or distributors to cover different regions. Due to Nigeria’s complex legal framework, it is crucial to carefully negotiate all terms and conditions of these arrangements. To assist in finding a trusted partner, Commercial Service Nigeria implements a unique program called “Networking with the USA” (NUSA). Nigerian companies interested in doing business with U.S. companies must apply to NUSA. They are vetted by a third-party investigative team which includes site visits and interviews with management. These candidates are properly certified as NUSA members before any U.S. clients are matched with them. This program assists Nigerian companies to overcome unique reputational challenges that are common to this market while only pairing trusted companies with U.S. clients. NUSA members must pay an annual fee and are recertified each year.