Nigeria and the Kingdom of Lesotho have intensified efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations, with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) facilitating talks between businesses from both countries to unlock new opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The initiative took centre stage on Wednesday as Lesotho’s Prime Minister, Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, led a high-level delegation to the Nigeria–Lesotho Business-to-Business (B2B) Meeting in Abuja, where stakeholders identified agriculture, manufacturing, oil and gas, energy, infrastructure, tourism, hospitality and information technology as priority sectors for collaboration.

Representing the President of ACCI, Chief Emeka Obegolu (SAN), the Chamber’s Second Deputy President, Aliyu Idi Hong, described the engagement as a major step towards deepening economic diplomacy and expanding intra-African trade through stronger private sector partnerships.

He said the meeting reflected the shared commitment of both countries to attracting investments, promoting enterprise development and creating sustainable prosperity across the continent.

Hong reaffirmed ACCI’s role in driving trade, commerce and investment through policy advocacy and strategic partnerships, adding that the Chamber’s specialised institutions, including the Abuja Trade Centre, Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, National Policy Advocacy Centre (NPAC) and Dispute Resolution Centre (DRC), provide businesses with investment support, capacity building and alternative dispute resolution services.

Matekane said his visit was intended to showcase Lesotho’s investment potential and connect businesses in the Kingdom with Nigerian investors and entrepreneurs.

“Our mission is to build meaningful business relationships that will transform partnerships into investments and investments into prosperity for our people,” he said, while inviting Nigerian businesses to explore investment opportunities in Lesotho.

The Prime Minister also commended Nigeria’s dynamic private sector, expressing confidence that stronger commercial partnerships would create new avenues for economic growth and sustainable development in both countries.

The Director-General of ACCI, Agabaidu Jideani, said the Chamber remained well positioned to facilitate business cooperation, trade promotion and improved market access, urging both countries to convert discussions into concrete investments.

Also speaking, Lesotho’s Minister of Industry and Business Development, Motlatsi Mwalepo, emphasised the need for deliberate collaboration between governments and the private sector, noting that sustained engagement would produce mutually beneficial outcomes.

Chairman and Publisher of the African Leadership Organisation (ALO), Ola Giami, called on African business leaders to play a greater role in shaping policies that support economic growth and regional integration, describing ACCI as a credible platform for investment promotion and business networking.

Participants expressed optimism that the meeting would accelerate trade, investment flows, joint ventures and technology transfer while strengthening economic cooperation between Nigeria and Lesotho under the AfCFTA framework.

The event concluded with networking sessions aimed at fostering long-term commercial partnerships between businesses from both countries.