By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi 

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has extended warm congratulations to President Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States.

Tinubu, in his congratulatory message, said this gesture aims to strengthen ties between Nigeria and the US, fostering economic cooperation, promoting peace, and addressing global challenges affecting citizens.

President Tinubu expressed his optimism about President Trump’s return to the White House, citing his experience as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.

He believes this will usher in a new era of beneficial economic and development partnerships between Africa and the US.

The Nigerian leader acknowledged the US’s significant influence and position in shaping global events and trusts that President Trump will promote peace and prosperity worldwide.

This sentiment reflects the existing strategic partnership between the US and Nigeria, built on shared values of democracy, respect for human rights, and robust people-to-people relations.

Key Areas of US-Nigeria Cooperation:

– Economic Engagement: The US is one of Nigeria’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade exceeding $10 billion in 2019.

– Health Diplomacy: The US has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s health sector, including COVID-19 response efforts and programs like PEPFAR.

– Educational Exchanges: Nigeria sends thousands of students to the US annually, with over 14,000 pursuing graduate and undergraduate degrees in 2019-2020 ¹.

– Security Cooperation: The US provides technical assistance and training to Nigerian law enforcement and military personnel.