By Jonathan Lois
The President of the United States Chamber of Commerce Ms. Clark will visit the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria-US parliamentary relations and explore investment opportunities between both countries.
The Chairman of the friendship House Committee on Nigeria-USA Parliamentary Relations, Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, disclosed this during a meeting of the committee, where he briefed members on preparations for the planned engagement with the American business delegation.
Onuakalusi said the Speaker had accepted the committee’s request to host the visiting delegation at 3 p.m. on Monday, adding that arrangements were also being made for members of the committee to interact with the delegation during a dinner hosted by the US Embassy in Abuja on October 25.
According to him, the visit followed contacts established during the committee’s previous engagements in the United States, including a visit in May 2025, when members met with representatives of the US Chamber of Commerce.
He said the committee had begun efforts to translate those relationships into practical benefits for Nigeria by developing a framework for sustained engagement with American business interests.
The chairman Onuakalusi explained that the committee had directed its consultants and the Clerk to harness the contacts established during previous foreign engagements and develop a business and legislative framework that would guide future cooperation.
He said the visiting delegation would also be taken on a tour of the National Assembly, including the chambers and the National Assembly Library, to familiarise its members with Nigeria’s legislative institution and identify areas of potential collaboration.
Onuakalusi said the committee was working to ensure that the visit produced concrete outcomes, particularly in attracting investment and creating opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
He urged members to identify Nigerian entrepreneurs who could participate in the engagement, stressing that direct interaction between businesspeople was essential to translating diplomatic contacts into viable investments.
The Minority Leader Hon. Fredrick Agbodi, said a list of interested Nigerian businesspeople and their profiles would be compiled before the end of October to facilitate a structured engagement with the visiting delegation.
He emphasised that government officials alone could not effectively negotiate commercial partnerships without the participation of businesspeople who understood investment opportunities and market realities.
Onuakalusi said the committee’s engagements in the United States had helped raise Nigeria’s profile and opened channels of communication that could be useful to the country and future National Assemblies.
He also acknowledged the personal sacrifices made by members who funded some of the committee’s international engagements, describing their contributions as an investment in Nigeria’s image and future.
In their remarks, members of the committee welcomed the planned visit, describing it as an opportunity to deepen bilateral relations, promote Nigerian businesses and attract foreign investment.
One of the lawmakers, Hon. David Ogan, commended the chairman for moving the committee from discussions to concrete action, expressing optimism that the visit would yield positive results.
He said the planned engagement demonstrated the value of sustained networking and could position the committee as an important channel for engagement between the Nigerian legislature and American institutions.
Onuakalusi urged the committee to ensure that Nigerian entrepreneurs were included in the discussions, arguing that business-to-business interactions were critical to securing investments.
He said the delegation’s visit should be used to showcase Nigeria’s investment potential and identify local products, services and industries that could find markets in the United States.
The lawmaker also called for stronger collaboration with relevant parliamentary committees, particularly those responsible for foreign affairs, commerce and industry, to ensure that the engagement produced measurable economic benefits.
He noted that Nigeria had often missed investment opportunities when government delegations travelled abroad without adequate participation by private-sector operators.
The lawmakers expressed hope that the planned engagement would establish a lasting framework for cooperation that would benefit Nigeria beyond the tenure of the current House.
The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for the House leadership, the Nigeria-USA Parliamentary Relations Committee and members of the American business community to explore areas of mutual interest and strengthen economic ties between both countries.
