President Bola Tinubu received German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Wednesday morning, marking another milestone in the six-decade-long diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and Germany.
Steinmeier, who arrived in Abuja on Tuesday evening, was officially welcomed at the Villa’s Forecourt around 11:06 am local time.
He was accompanied by a delegation of business leaders representing top German firms in IT, energy, and high-tech industries.
The ceremonial reception included the playing of the national anthems of both countries and an inspection of the Guard of Honour mounted by the Presidential Brigade of Guards.
A 21-gun salute followed before Tinubu led his guest into a closed-door meeting.
The German Embassy in Nigeria had earlier announced that Steinmeier would meet with President Tinubu and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Alieu Touray.
The discussions aim to strengthen bilateral ties and address regional issues.
Following his engagements in Abuja, Steinmeier is scheduled to travel to Lagos, where he will meet with business leaders, visit a start-up hub, and interact with cultural and civil society figures, including renowned artist Dr. Nike Okundaye and Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka.
He will also explore Lagos’ urban development and its associated challenges.
Steinmeier’s visit continues a tradition of high-level exchanges between the two nations. He is the second German leader to visit Nigeria in just over a year and the third European leader since the Russo-Ukrainian conflict began in 2022.
Past visits include German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s trip in October 2023 and other significant visits by Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2011 and 2018.
Nigeria’s leadership has reciprocated these visits, with former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan making trips to Germany for diplomatic and trade engagements.
The discussions also highlight ongoing collaborations in energy, technology, and trade. Notable projects include the Siemens-Nigeria agreement signed in 2019 to enhance the country’s power generation capacity and Nigeria’s growing exports of crude oil to Germany, valued at €1.9 billion in 2022. Machinery and electronic components dominate Germany’s exports to Nigeria, valued at €1.1 billion.
Following their meeting, Presidents Tinubu and Steinmeier are expected to address the media on their discussions and potential agreements. This visit underscores the strategic partnership between Nigeria and Germany and their shared commitment to addressing global and regional challenges.
