Germany Remains Nigeria’s Second Biggest Partner- Amb. Günther.
By Ferdinand Olise
The German Embassy in Nigeria has emphasized the need to further deepen, and strengthen the diplomatic relations which has existed between it and Nigeria, since Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, stated this in Abuja on Thursday, 5th October, 2023 while briefing Journalists on the relations between the two countries, and the achievements so far. She said Germany is Nigeria’s second biggest partner in the area of development, and humanitarian cooperation, after the United States of America.
‘Germany and Nigeria have had diplomatic relations since Nigeria’s Independence in 1960. When Germany was still divided, both East and West Germany had Embassies in the country.” She said.
Ambassador Annett Gunther, therefore stressed the need to deepen, and intensify close and cordial relations between both countries, noting that the two countries have a Binational Commission and meet regularly in the five working groups which include politics, trade, energy and climate, migration, and culture, ensuring close coordination on the political level.
“Key activity areas of engagement are economic development, modernisation, climate protection and energy transition, education and skills development of youths, improving agricultural efficiency, and financing, peace building, and conflict prevention.
“In terms of humanitarian assistance, Germany is again, the second biggest donor in Nigeria, with 50 million Euros spent in 2022 on activities such as protection, food security, health, and shelter that save lives every day”, she said.
She noted that, Nigeria is German’s second biggest trading partner in sub-sahara Africa with a total trade volume of three billion euros, and that, there are ninety German companies in Nigeria indirectly creating about seventeen thousand jobs.
“Again, looking at the EU as a whole, around 160,000 jobs are generated by European companies. Many of these German companies are recognised as German, such as Julius Berger, Siemens or Lufthansa “.
According to her, Germany has committed a total of six hundred and twenty million Euros in development corporation grants in ongoing projects and another six hundred and twenty million Euros pledge to the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, in current projects.
She added that, through countless personal exchanges, various relationships between the two countries have been established.
