President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to the Presidential Villa in Abuja earlier today.
President Steinmeier arrived at the Forecourt of the State House at 11:06 AM and was received by President Tinubu alongside members of the Executive Council.
The visit began with a ceremonial reception, where the German National Anthem, Deutschland über alles, was played, followed by the Nigerian Anthem. Steinmeier inspected the guards of honor mounted by the Brigade of Guards. A 21-gun salute concluded the ceremony before President Tinubu led his German counterpart into the State House for closed-door discussions.
Highlights of Steinmeier’s Visit
In a statement on Monday, the German Embassy revealed that Steinmeier’s visit includes meetings with President Tinubu and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Alieu Touray.
Steinmeier will also travel to Lagos, where he is scheduled to engage with business leaders, visit a start-up hub, and interact with cultural icons like Dr. Nike Okundaye and Prof. Wole Soyinka.
“There will also be an opportunity to tour the city of Lagos and gain insights into the urban development of a megacity, including its environmental and social challenges,” the Embassy stated.
Historical Ties and Recent Engagements
This visit marks the continuation of over six decades of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Germany, featuring high-level exchanges since 1978 when Chancellor Helmut Schmidt visited Nigeria.
- In 2023, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Nigeria, meeting business leaders and hosting President Tinubu at the G20 Compact with Africa Economic Conference.
- Other notable visits include former President Umaru Yar’Adua hosting German President Horst Koehler in 2008, and Angela Merkel’s historic visit in 2011 as the first non-African head of state to meet President Goodluck Jonathan.
- Nigeria has also signed significant agreements with Germany, including a 2019 deal with Siemens to boost Nigeria’s electricity grid to 25,000 megawatts by 2025.
Economic Partnerships
Germany remains a vital trade partner for Nigeria, particularly in energy and technology. In 2022, Nigeria exported €1.9 billion worth of oil to Germany, while German exports to Nigeria, including machinery and electronics, were valued at €1.1 billion.
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The closed-door talks between Tinubu and Steinmeier are expected to touch on strengthening these ties, with a joint press briefing anticipated after their discussions.
