US Congress passes AGOA extension through 2028 by wide margins
The US House and Senate approved the bill extending African Growth and Opportunity Act benefits to Nigeria and other nations until December 31, 2028. The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce welcomes the vote but urges diversification beyond oil.
The Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, passed the US Senate by a vote of 90 to six and the House of Representatives with 340 votes to 54. President Donald Trump signed legislation preserving duty-free market access for Nigeria and 31 other sub-Saharan African countries through December 31, 2028. The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce praised this move as providing certainty for regional investment and export planning. NACC National President Alhaji Sheriff Balogun stated the extension offers a chance to build Nigeria's export base, noting the country is the second-largest AGOA beneficiary but underutilizes the agreement. He warned that the region must leverage these 28 months to move beyond oil dependency. Specific sectors for diversification include agricultural products, textiles, processed foods, and manufactures where African nations possess advantages.
