Akpabio seeks stronger Nigeria-Germany ties, proposes parliamentary dialogue

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for stronger economic and parliamentary cooperation between Nigeria and Germany, proposing a structured dialogue between the legislatures of both countries to sustain their engagement.

Akpabio made the call on Thursday, October 29, 2026, in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development of the German Bundestag, led by its chairman, Dr Wolfgang Stefinger.

In an address titled “Let Friendship Become Factories,” the Senate President said Nigeria and Germany had built more than six decades of friendship and mutual trust but needed to translate the relationship into investments, industrial growth and employment opportunities.

He said the visit reflected a shared interest in ensuring that bilateral relations delivered practical benefits to citizens of both countries.

“Today, our responsibility is to translate that foundation into greater opportunities, stronger institutions and shared prosperity for our peoples,” Akpabio said.

He identified electricity, technical skills and job creation as priority areas for stronger cooperation, adding that parliamentarians had a responsibility to ensure that agreements between governments were sustained through legislation, oversight and budgetary decisions.

Akpabio proposed the establishment of a structured Nigeria-Germany Parliamentary Dialogue, supported by committee exchanges and designated contacts to maintain engagement beyond the delegation’s visit.

On economic cooperation, he said Nigeria was interested in attracting more German investment into manufacturing, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, technology and infrastructure.

He said such partnerships should support local capacity development, technology transfer and access to wider markets for Nigerian businesses.

“We seek not merely to trade more with Germany, but to produce more with Germany,” he said.

The Senate President also identified costly financing, export-credit premiums and regulatory barriers as challenges that could discourage potential investors. He called for improved access to investment and development finance, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking partnerships with Nigerian businesses.

On electricity, Akpabio urged Germany to support faster implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative involving Siemens, alongside investments in renewable energy, natural gas and sustainable infrastructure.

He said reliable electricity was essential to industrialisation, arguing that improved power supply would help businesses reduce operating costs, increase productive hours and attract investment.

Akpabio also called for greater cooperation in technical and vocational education, urging partnerships between Nigerian institutions and German technical colleges, industries and employers.

He identified engineering, digital technology, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship as areas where young Nigerians could benefit from Germany’s experience in technical training and industry-linked apprenticeships.

On security, he welcomed Germany’s existing cooperation with Nigeria and called for stronger collaboration in training, intelligence, surveillance, counterterrorism, border security and maritime protection, with respect for human rights.

He said improved security in Nigeria would contribute to stability across West Africa and the Sahel, while protecting trade and other shared interests.

The Senate President further urged both countries to expand safe and lawful migration pathways, improve the recognition of professional qualifications and strengthen efforts against human trafficking.

He said migration-related cooperation should ensure that returns and reintegration processes respected due process and human dignity, while recognising the value of diaspora and cultural connections between the two countries.

Akpabio proposed five practical outcomes from the visit: sustained parliamentary dialogue, accelerated electricity and renewable-energy cooperation, a skills and innovation partnership, improved access to investment and development finance, and designated parliamentary contacts to monitor agreed actions.

The German delegation’s visit to Nigeria is scheduled to run from October 25 to 31, 2026. According to the German Bundestag, its programme includes discussions with members of Nigeria’s National Assembly, government representatives and development partners, as well as visits to projects involving German and international development cooperation.

The visit is intended to give committee members first-hand information on Nigeria’s development priorities and the implementation of cooperation projects.