Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has sought collaboration with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul to deepen the Nigeria–Germany relations across key sectors, including energy, trade, and migration governance.
Germany reaffirmed its recognition of Nigeria as a strategic partner in sub-Saharan Africa, noting that Nigeria is already its second-largest trading partner in the region. The two ministers reviewed progress in bilateral engagements, particularly the German-Nigerian Energy Partnership, which was established in 2008 and expanded in 2021 with the opening of a hydrogen office in Abuja under Germany’s National Hydrogen Strategy.
Speaking during the talks, Tuggar emphasised Nigeria’s economic and demographic significance, saying, “With over 220 million people and projections to reach 400 million by 2050, Nigeria’s focus is not to export people, but to export talent. We are committed to working with partners like Germany on structured pathways for job creation and to address the root causes of irregular migration.”
Tuggar highlighted Nigeria’s abundance of critical raw materials, presenting it as a compelling opportunity for mutually beneficial trade and investment.
“Nigeria is well-positioned to support Germany’s industrial and green transition goals. Our minerals, if developed through value-added partnerships, can be a foundation for sustainable growth on both sides,” he noted.
On his part, Wadephul described Nigeria as a “key partner” in Africa and reiterated Germany’s interest in expanding cooperation, particularly in renewable energy, vocational training, and economic diversification.
“For both Germany and the European Union, Africa is the continent of the future. Nigeria plays a vital role in this vision. There are tremendous opportunities for cooperation in critical minerals, energy transition, and private sector engagement,” Wadephul stated.