Tinubu Receives German President Steinmeier in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Nigeria’s Aso Rock Villa in Abuja for official talks on Wednesday morning. Steinmeier, who arrived in Abuja on Tuesday evening, met with Tinubu at the Forecourt of the Villa at approximately 11:06 AM (local time) on Wednesday.

Accompanied by a business delegation consisting of CEOs and senior executives from some of Germany’s leading companies in IT, high-tech, and energy sectors, Steinmeier was greeted with a display of national pride, including the playing of both the Nigerian and German national anthems. The German leader was then given a formal inspection of the Guard of Honour by the Presidential Brigade of Guards, followed by a 21-gun salute.

The two leaders then proceeded to closed-door discussions in Tinubu’s office, where key areas of bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Germany were expected to be explored.

In a statement released earlier this week, the German Embassy outlined Steinmeier’s agenda, which includes meetings with Tinubu and Dr. Alieu Touray, the President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Steinmeier’s visit will also take him to Lagos, where he will engage with business representatives, visit a start-up hub, and meet with cultural figures such as Dr. Nike Okundaye and Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka. Additionally, the German president is scheduled to tour Lagos, gaining insights into the city’s urban development challenges, including environmental and social issues.

Steinmeier’s visit marks the second trip by a German leader to Nigeria in the past 14 months, following German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit in October 2023. Steinmeier is the third European leader to visit Nigeria since the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War in February 2022.