Nigeria and Germany have recorded an all-time high in bilateral trade, reaching €3 billion this year, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther, announced on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja ahead of the joint Nigerian-German Binational Commission scheduled in Berlin, Ambassador Gunther attributed the 30 per cent increase in trade to Nigeria’s ongoing economic recovery.
According to Gunther, “Nigeria remains Germany’s second-largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a total trade volume of €3 billion.
”Trade volumes have increased this year by 30 percent due to Nigeria’s economic recovery,” the envoy said in German.
Gunther also highlighted the growing presence of German businesses in Nigeria, noting that over 90 German companies are active in the country, indirectly generating approximately 17,000 jobs.
She furthrr reassured Nigerians that investment flows from Germany were far from over, with a focus on the energy and pharmaceutical sectors.
In the energy sector, the ambassador cited the second phase of the Presidential Power Initiative, a collaboration with German energy giant Siemens, which is expected to add about 7 gigawatts to Nigeria’s energy grid.
“Additionally, the German-Nigerian cooperation in the gas sector is addressing gas flaring and helping to reduce Nigeria’s CO2 footprint,” she added.
Visa and migration relations have also improved between the two countries.
Gunther revealed that the German Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos issued more than 7,600 visas to Nigerians for both study and short-term stays last year, with plans to further increase these numbers this year.
Her words: “All common goals and projects would not work without travel and legal migration between our countries.
”Last year alone, around 1,400 long-term visas were granted for study, family reunion, and employment purposes, while approximately 6,200 short-term visas were issued for business and tourism.
”This year, we are on track to raise those numbers,” she said.
The ambassador also confirmed Germany’s commitment to military cooperation with Nigeria.
She noted the launch of the first Bilateral Annual Programme this year, which brought military experts from both countries together for in-depth exchanges and joint planning.
“Through the Bundeswehr Advisory Group, Germany has been a reliable partner providing field medical expertise, counter-IED operations, vehicle mechanical training, and other interventions.
”Next month, high-level military staff talks will take place in Abuja, opening the door to even closer collaboration in the future,” Gunther said.
Beyond military support, Germany continued to assist the Nigeria Police Force and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, among others.
The envoy also emphasised German backing for initiatives aimed at mitigating terrorism and climate change, particularly in Nigeria’s North East and North West regions.
“Germany is supporting the development of resilient state institutions and strengthening local communities.
”Efforts in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina include reconstruction of schools, health centres, markets, housing, and police stations, improving both security and daily life for local residents,” she explained.
