Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, and Johannes Lehne, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy, have led renewed efforts by Nigeria and Germany to deepen industrial cooperation, as German machinery manufacturers and Nigerian industrialists converged in Abuja to unlock new investments in cement, mining, steel and building materials.
The high-level engagement, which brought together what organisers described as the largest German industry-focused delegation to Nigeria, was held in Abuja, under the German-Nigeria Cement, Building Materials and Mining Technology Conference.
Chux Onaa, convener and head of the German delegation, said the partnership must move beyond conventional trade to long-term industrial cooperation anchored on technology, investment and trust.
‘The strongest commercial relationships are built not only on technology and investment, but also on trust and a shared vision,’ Onaa said.
Bagudu highlighted Nigeria’s recent pound 364 million export credit guarantee agreement with Germany, saying it would strengthen the financial framework for industrial ventures and support private-sector-led growth under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his remarks, Lehne said Germany was seeking a durable partnership with Nigeria rather than short-term commercial opportunities.
‘We are not looking for one-off solutions. We want long-term partnerships; we want to develop the future together,’ he said. He disclosed that Germany’s portfolio in Nigeria had exceeded pound 600 million, while bilateral trade had risen from about $2.5 billion to more than $3.5 billion.
The German delegation also met Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, Minister of Steel Development, to explore cooperation in steel production, mineral processing, technology transfer and equipment manufacturing.
The conference featured German technology presentations, a panel on export and trade finance involving DEG, Access Bank and German Desk, and a business-to-business session linking Nigerian industrialists directly with German original equipment manufacturers.
The organisers said the initiative could accelerate technology-driven industrialisation as Nigeria pursues its $1 trillion economy ambition.