Liberia-Nigeria Trade Forum Set for June 15 in Lagos to Unlock Ties

LAGOS — The inaugural Liberia-Nigeria Trade and Investment Forum 2026 is set to hold on Monday, June 15, in Lagos under the theme Building Bridges: Unlocking West African Opportunities. The Nation confirmed the forum on Saturday. It brings together business leaders, government officials, and investors from both countries.

Organisers said the forum will facilitate structured business matching between Nigerian and Liberian companies across sectors including agriculture, construction, finance, technology, and manufacturing. Both countries are ECOWAS members but have historically underperformed their bilateral trade potential.

The Nigerian-Liberian Chamber of Commerce said there are enormous untapped opportunities for Nigerian companies to invest in Liberia’s infrastructure, agriculture, and services sectors. It said Liberia’s post-civil war rebuilding continues to create demand for goods and expertise that Nigerian businesses are well positioned to supply.

ECOWAS Trade in Focus

The forum fits into a broader pattern of Nigeria deepening bilateral trade relationships across West Africa. Nigeria’s creative economy partnership with China announced recently and the Liberia forum both reflect a government push to diversify trade relationships beyond traditional partners.

Nigeria’s $480 million trade surplus in January 2026 showed the country’s improved export capacity. However, the surplus is largely driven by petroleum exports. Diversifying export revenue through manufactured goods and services trade with West African neighbours like Liberia would strengthen the trade position further.

Liberian President Joseph Boakai has expressed strong interest in deepening the bilateral relationship with Nigeria. His government has been pursuing economic diversification and infrastructure investment since taking office. Nigerian investors with appetite for frontier market opportunities see Liberia as one of West Africa’s most promising growth stories.