Nigeria-United States Economic Relations in the context of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA): A Systematic Review

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has played a significant role in promoting the diversification of Nigeria's non-oil export sectors by providing access to the U.S. market for products such as textiles, leather, and agricultural goods. While AGOA has expanded opportunities for Nigerian exporters, various challenges such as infrastructural deficits, high production costs, and stringent U.S. regulatory standards limit the full utilization of its benefits. This study examined Nigeria-U.S. Economic Relations in The Context of The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). It covered a period between 2015 and 2023. The paper employed the modernization theory as the theoretical framework. The study employed a purposive sampling method, selecting interview respondents from key informants. The findings showed that; The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has positively contributed to the diversification of Nigeria's non-oil export sectors, and the key challenges faced by Nigerian exporters in fully utilizing AGOA stem from inadequate infrastructure, high production costs, and difficulty meeting U.S. regulatory standards. The paper recommended that; Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) should increase awareness and capacity-building programs for exporters to better understand and navigate U.S. regulatory standards, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing sectors, Ministry of Trade and Investment should invest in improving infrastructure, especially in transportation and energy, to reduce production costs and enhance the competitiveness of non-oil exports. Lastly, establish a stable and consistent trade policy framework to provide exporters with the confidence to invest in long-term AGOA-related projects. Keywords African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), non-oil export diversification, infrastructural challenges, trade, Economic Relation