Nigeria’s trade relationship with Germany has strengthened significantly, hitting €3 billion after a 30 % increase, according to the German ambassador.
At a briefing ahead of the upcoming Nigeria-German Binational Commission meeting in Berlin, Ambassador Annett Günther pointed to Nigeria’s economic recovery as a key driver of the surge. “Germany’s second biggest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa with a total trade volume of €3 billion. Trade volumes have increased this year by 30% due to Nigeria’s economic recovery.”
Gunther noted that over 90 German companies are currently operating in Nigeria, collectively creating around 17,000 jobs across different sectors. More German investment is expected, particularly in the energy and pharmaceutical industries.
On migration and collaboration, she emphasized the importance of legal movement between the two countries: “All the common goals and projects would not work if they were not supported by travel on all levels between our two countries, plus legal migration. The German Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos issued around 1,400 long-term visas and about 6,200 short-term visas last year for purposes such as study, employment, business, and tourism.
In the energy sector, initiatives are already underway. The Presidential Power initiative is in its second phase, and Germany is expanding its technical cooperation with Nigeria, especially in green hydrogen. “We are actively exploring opportunities to enhance relationships, technology transfer, and joint research initiatives in the hydrogen sector between our countries,” Gunther stated.
Altogether, the growing trade volume, job creation by German firms, and deepening collaboration in energy and migration signal a strong and evolving partnership. With the foundations set, the upcoming Binational Commission meeting in Berlin is poised to strengthen ties even further.
