Akpabio Seeks German Investment to Drive Nigeria’s Industrial Growth

– Proposes parliamentary dialogue, faster power projects, skills transfer, improved financing Sunday Aborisade in Abuja President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for stronger economic cooperation between Nigeria and Germany, urging both countries to translate more than six decades of diplomatic relations into investments, industrial growth, technology transfer and employment opportunities. Akpabio, according to a statement by his media office on Thursday, made the call on Thursday in Abuja when he received a delegation of the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development of the German Bundestag, led by Professor Wolfgang Stefinger, in his office at the National Assembly. In an address titled, “Let Friendship Become Factories,” the Senate President said Nigeria and Germany must move beyond diplomatic goodwill to establish partnerships capable of delivering tangible economic benefits to their citizens. He said the longstanding relationship between both countries provided a solid foundation for deeper cooperation but stressed that the priority should now be to convert their friendship into productive investments and sustainable jobs. “Nigeria and Germany have spent more than six decades building friendship and mutual trust. Today, our responsibility is to translate that foundation into greater opportunities, stronger institutions and shared prosperity for our peoples,” he said. Akpabio added, “The challenge before us is to turn that friendship into factories, that trust into investment, and that cooperation into jobs. “As we meet and share experience, let us have a stronger partnership in the areas of electricity that powers businesses, the skills that secure our livelihoods, and the jobs that sustain families.” He emphasised the critical role of parliamentarians in ensuring that bilateral agreements produced measurable results, noting that legislative institutions could sustain partnerships beyond changes in government. He said, “As parliamentarians, we have a special responsibility. The government negotiates partnerships; parliaments help give them continuity, accountability and lasting value. “Through legislation, oversight and budgetary decisions, we help turn commitments into results,” he said. To institutionalise the relationship, Akpabio proposed a structured Nigeria-Germany Parliamentary Dialogue, supported by regular committee exchanges and designated parliamentary contacts to maintain engagement and monitor the implementation of agreed initiatives. He said Nigeria’s economic ambition was to expand domestic production, strengthen industries and create productive employment, adding that German investment could accelerate the country’s industrialisation drive. According to him, Nigeria welcomes increased German investment in manufacturing, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, technology and infrastructure, particularly partnerships that develop local capacity, transfer technical expertise and connect Nigerian businesses to international markets. “We seek not merely to trade more with Germany, but to produce more with Germany,” he said. The Senate President however identified costly financing, high export-credit premiums and unnecessary regulatory barriers as some of the obstacles that could discourage investors from establishing businesses in Nigeria. He called for measures to address these constraints, stressing that German small and medium-sized enterprises should have greater opportunities to invest in partnership with Nigerian businesses. Akpabio also identified electricity supply as a major determinant of Nigeria’s industrial prospects, warning that unreliable power remained a significant impediment to business expansion and economic productivity. “Energy is central to this ambition. No economy can industrialise at the mercy of unreliable electricity. Every factory needs power; every small business needs certainty,” he said. He expressed Nigeria’s interest in accelerating the implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative involving Siemens, while calling for increased investment in renewable energy, natural gas and sustainable infrastructure. According to him, improved electricity supply would deliver benefits beyond additional generation capacity by extending productive working hours, reducing operating costs and strengthening investors’ confidence. “For us, improved electricity supply means more than additional capacity. It means longer productive hours, lower business costs and greater confidence to invest,” he said. The Senate President also urged both countries to deepen cooperation in technical education, vocational training and innovation, noting that Germany’s experience in apprenticeships and industry-linked skills development offered valuable opportunities for Nigeria’s youthful population. He proposed stronger connections between Nigerian educational institutions and German technical colleges, industries and employers, particularly in engineering, digital technology, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship. “The most enduring investment in our partnership will be the skills we place in the hands of the next generation,” Akpabio said. He argued that such collaboration would help equip young Nigerians with practical competencies required by modern industries, improve their employability and support the growth of technology-driven enterprises. On security, Akpabio called for stronger cooperation between Nigeria and Germany in training, intelligence gathering, surveillance, counterterrorism, border security and maritime protection, while emphasising the need to respect human rights. He said improved security in Nigeria would strengthen stability across West Africa and the Sahel, protect commercial activities and advance the shared interests of both countries. “A secure Nigeria strengthens stability across West Africa and the Sahel, protects commerce and advances our shared interests,” he said. Akpabio further called for development cooperation that prioritises sustainable enterprises, productive employment and measurable improvements in citizens’ living conditions. He urged both countries to ensure that development programmes moved beyond policy commitments to deliver outcomes that could be assessed in terms of economic growth, job creation and improved livelihoods. On migration, the Senate President advocated expanded opportunities for safe and lawful migration, mutual recognition of professional qualifications and stronger measures against human trafficking. He also stressed that the return and reintegration of migrants should respect due process and human dignity, while describing the Nigerian diaspora and longstanding cultural connections as important links between the two countries. To give practical effect to the discussions, Akpabio proposed five priority areas for follow-up: sustained parliamentary dialogue; accelerated cooperation in electricity and renewable energy; a partnership in skills development and innovation; improved access to investment and development finance; and the appointment of designated parliamentary contacts to track agreed actions. He expressed confidence that a more structured relationship between the legislatures of both countries would strengthen accountability, sustain bilateral engagement and help translate diplomatic commitments into concrete economic gains. The Senate President maintained that Nigeria’s relationship with Germany should increasingly be measured by the factories established, businesses strengthened, skills transferred and jobs created through their cooperation.