Britain benefits more from deal with Nigeria, says Usanga

Nigeria’s recent agreements with the United Kingdom have come under scrutiny, with Ambassador John Usanga warning that the partnerships may deliver greater benefits to Britain than to Nigeria.

Speaking during an interview, Usanga acknowledged the diplomatic value of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s UK visit but questioned the real economic returns, particularly around key deals such as the Lagos port redevelopment.

“If you look at it holistically, the main beneficiary of that agreement is the British government,” Usanga said.

He noted that while the agreements could improve infrastructure, Nigerians are yet to see clear gains in job creation, trade expansion, or foreign exchange earnings.

“Yes, it will help us to develop the ports, but to what extent are we going to benefit? Are they going to create jobs? Are we going to sell anything coming from there to earn the much-needed foreign exchange?” he queried.

Despite his concerns, the former diplomat described the visit as a strong diplomatic outing that elevated Nigeria’s global standing, signalling readiness to engage more actively on the international stage.

“It’s a powerful outing for Mr President… to place Nigeria up there on the map,” he said.

On security and migration, Usanga stressed that agreements alone are not enough, urging both countries to focus on implementation and tangible outcomes, particularly in tackling terrorism and addressing visa policies affecting Nigerians.

He maintained that the success of the UK engagement would ultimately depend on whether it translates into measurable economic and security benefits for ordinary Nigerians.