By Anayo Akwitti
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for stronger economic cooperation between Nigeria and Germany, urging both countries to translate their longstanding friendship into investments, industrial growth and job creation.
Akpabio made the call on Thursday in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development of the German Bundestag, led by Professor Wolfgang Stefinger.
In an address titled “Let Friendship Become Factories,” the Senate President said Nigeria and Germany had spent more than six decades building mutual trust, adding that the time had come to convert the relationship into tangible benefits for their citizens.
He said stronger cooperation in electricity, skills development, manufacturing and employment would help drive economic growth in both countries.
“Today, our responsibility is to translate that foundation into greater opportunities, stronger institutions and shared prosperity for our peoples,” Akpabio said.
He proposed the establishment of a structured Nigeria-Germany Parliamentary Dialogue, supported by committee exchanges and designated contacts to sustain engagement and ensure the implementation of agreed initiatives.
Akpabio said Nigeria was seeking increased German investment in manufacturing, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, technology and infrastructure, particularly partnerships that promote technology transfer, develop local capacity and connect Nigerian businesses to international markets.
He stressed that Nigeria wanted not only to expand trade with Germany but also to increase joint production, calling for measures to address high financing costs, export-credit premiums and regulatory barriers confronting investors.
On electricity, the Senate President urged faster implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative involving Siemens, alongside greater investment in renewable energy, natural gas and sustainable infrastructure.
According to him, reliable electricity would reduce business costs, extend productive hours and strengthen investors’ confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
Akpabio also called for stronger collaboration in technical education, vocational training and innovation, urging partnerships between Nigerian institutions and German technical colleges, industries and employers in engineering, digital technology, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship.
He described skills development as a lasting investment in the younger generation, adding that economic cooperation must be supported by improved security.
The Senate President welcomed Germany’s existing security cooperation with Nigeria and called for expanded collaboration in intelligence, surveillance, counterterrorism, border security, maritime protection and security training, with respect for human rights.
He said a more secure Nigeria would strengthen stability across West Africa and the Sahel, protect commercial activities and advance the shared interests of both countries.
On migration, Akpabio advocated safe and lawful migration pathways, mutual recognition of qualifications and stronger action against human trafficking. He also stressed that the return and reintegration of migrants must respect due process and human dignity.
He identified five priority areas for the partnership: sustained parliamentary dialogue, accelerated electricity and renewable-energy cooperation, skills and innovation development, improved access to investment and development finance, and designated parliamentary contacts to monitor progress on agreed commitments.
Akpabio expressed the hope that the German delegation’s visit would produce practical outcomes capable of strengthening bilateral relations and delivering lasting economic benefits to both countries.
