By Stella Odueme
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to deepening economic relations with Germany, with emphasis on investment promotion, energy cooperation and the implementation of existing bilateral agreements.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja when the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Stefan Rössel, paid a courtesy visit to the ministry.
Bagudu expressed appreciation for Germany’s longstanding partnership with Nigeria, particularly its support for the country’s economic reform programme and efforts to strengthen economic stability and development.
He recalled that Nigeria was implementing significant economic reforms when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the country, noting that international partners, including Germany, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Union, played important roles in supporting the reform process.
The minister said Nigeria remained grateful for the assistance received from its development partners, adding that the country was committed to building on the progress made through sustained international cooperation.
He also acknowledged Germany’s contributions to high-level engagements between both countries, particularly in trade, investment and energy, noting that discussions during the Nigerian President’s visit to Germany had advanced negotiations on important energy agreements.
According to Bagudu, Nigeria and Germany have established a strong foundation for bilateral cooperation, with considerable opportunities to expand their partnership and promote economic growth.
He disclosed that discussions had also covered cooperation involving €25 million and €300 million in export credit guarantees, describing the areas as important to ongoing efforts to attract investment and improve Nigeria’s capacity to utilise available resources.
The minister noted that the country’s economic reforms had created opportunities to attract more investments, expand productive capacity and ensure that international partnerships translated into tangible economic benefits.
He assured the German delegation of the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the German government and relevant institutions to strengthen bilateral relations and explore additional areas of mutual interest.
Earlier, Rössel described relations between Nigeria and Germany as strong and longstanding, expressing appreciation for the reception accorded him and his delegation.
The ambassador, who arrived in Nigeria a few weeks ago, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to building on the achievements recorded by both countries and exploring new opportunities for cooperation.
He acknowledged the increasingly complex global political, economic and strategic environment, expressing confidence that the longstanding relationship between the two countries would provide a solid foundation for addressing emerging challenges.
Rössel also welcomed the ministry’s willingness to sustain engagement with Germany, stressing the importance of maintaining existing partnerships while adapting to changing global circumstances.
In her remarks, the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, congratulated the ambassador on his appointment and welcomed him to Nigeria.
She expressed the ministry’s readiness to work with him and relevant German agencies to strengthen bilateral cooperation and advance shared development objectives.
Uzoka-Anite stressed the need to translate agreements and commitments between both countries into practical results, noting that effective implementation was essential to achieving the desired outcomes.
She assured the ambassador that the ministry would continue to facilitate collaboration and support the timely execution of joint initiatives.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Deborah Odoh, described Germany as a reliable development partner whose technical expertise, knowledge exchange and experience had contributed to Nigeria’s development.
Odoh expressed optimism that the ambassador’s tenure would provide further opportunities to expand cooperation and strengthen the longstanding relationship between the two countries.
The visit underscored the commitment of Nigeria and Germany to sustaining diplomatic engagement, strengthening economic cooperation and expanding investment opportunities for mutual development.