President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Germany, with a focus on security, power infrastructure and railway development.
The agreement was reached during a telephone conversation between the two leaders on Wednesday afternoon, according to a statement issued by the Presidency.
As part of efforts to address Nigeria’s long-standing electricity challenges, President Tinubu highlighted the need for support in power transmission under the Presidential Power Initiative. In response, Chancellor Merz assured Nigeria of Germany’s readiness to help, noting that Siemens would provide technical assistance, while Deutsche Bank would be willing to finance the project.
Beyond infrastructure, both leaders expressed concern over worsening insecurity in the Sahel region. President Tinubu stressed the urgency of intelligence and reconnaissance support, saying: “The Sahel corridor is bad and needs our support. Intelligence support reconnaissance is needed.” He also called for the supply of used helicopters to boost surveillance and security operations.
The discussion further extended to cultural diplomacy and human capital development, with both leaders agreeing to explore cooperation in creative arts and skills development. Chancellor Merz emphasised the importance of cultural exchange and proposed the establishment of a Great Museum of African Arts.
The call also reaffirmed the long-standing diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and Germany, which has spanned over 65 years. Chancellor Merz noted that Germany is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Nigeria’s new ambassador to Berlin.
The conversation, which lasted about nine minutes, began at 2:01 pm and ended at 2:10 pm, underscoring renewed momentum in Nigeria–Germany relations, particularly in areas critical to security, power supply and economic development.