Nigeria says, Europe remained it’s largest trading partner and a major ally in promoting peace and development across Africa.
During a visit by a delegation from the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, the Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations with EU in trade, security, and regional integration.
The Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening its strategic relationship with the European Union (EU), describing Europe as the nation’s largest trading partner and a critical ally in regional security, economic growth, and integration.
The minister emphasized that Nigeria values its long-standing cooperation with the EU, noting that both sides have continued to build on shared interests and mutual respect.
“Any visit from the European Union is very important to us because Europe remains our largest trading partner. Our trade volume stands at not less than €31.8 billion,” he said.
He further highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priority on food security, noting that with Nigeria’s population projected to reach 400 million by 2050, the government is “in a race against time” to create jobs, ensure food sufficiency, and sustain a healthy population.
The minister also referenced Nigeria’s recent membership as the 77th shareholder of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, describing it as a major step in strengthening economic collaboration between the two regions.
Ambassador Tuggar praised the European Union as a model of successful regional integration and said Nigeria is eager to adopt lessons from the EU’s achievements in unifying markets and promoting sustainable development across Africa.
“We have a lot of lessons to learn from the EU, which continues to advance its integration efforts. This gives us hope and a model to follow as we work toward a more integrated African market,” he added.
EU Delegation Commends Nigeria’s Leadership
The head of the visiting EU Parliament delegation, representing five European countries and three political groups, commended Nigeria for its leadership role in West Africa and its growing influence in Africa’s political and economic development.
“Nigeria is a strategic partner for the EU, not only because of our long-standing cooperation but also because of your position as Africa’s most populous nation and a major regional political and economic power,” the EU representative stated.
The delegation explained that their visit to Nigeria and Ghana was aimed at gaining deeper insights into the region’s political and economic landscape ahead of the upcoming EU-Africa Summit in Angola.
“We are here to listen, to understand, and to strengthen our partnership with Nigeria and the entire West African region,” the head of delegation added.
He expressed appreciation to Ambassador Tuggar for the engaging discussions, noting that both sides exchanged perspectives on developments in ECOWAS, the African Union, and the Sahel region, including Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
“I would say to sum up in one sentence: Nigeria matters. Nigeria matters for us in the European Union, and we in the European Parliament are very keen to take the relationship with Nigeria to the next level,” he concluded.
