Nigeria and Germany have signed a €365 million development and investment partnership aimed at strengthening economic growth, expanding energy infrastructure, boosting agriculture, and supporting private-sector development in Nigeria.
The agreement was signed on Thursday at the German Embassy in Abuja by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, and the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, alongside senior German government representatives.
According to the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the package includes a €65 million financial and technical cooperation commitment from Germany and an additional €300 million export credit guarantee framework designed to mobilize long-term investment into strategic sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Uzoka-Anite said the partnership reflects a shift in development cooperation toward investment-driven growth, innovation, and sustainable financing, adding that it goes beyond formal agreements to deliver tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.
She explained that the collaboration will support key sectors such as agricultural transformation, energy transition, skills development, healthcare strengthening, climate action, and broader economic sustainability.
The minister also linked the agreement to Nigeria’s ongoing economic reform agenda under President Bola Tinubu, noting that the reforms are designed to unlock long-term prosperity and attract global investment.
The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, said the agreement followed extensive bilateral consultations involving ministries, development agencies, and international partners, including GIZ and KfW, as well as representatives from the European Union.
She added that both countries are focused on strengthening cooperation in areas such as power, agriculture, digital economy, and industrial development.
A senior official from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Philip Knill, described Nigeria as a key African partner and highlighted ongoing engagement between both countries’ private sectors, including major firms exploring opportunities in energy, agriculture, and digital transformation.
He noted that German companies such as Siemens, SAP, Bayer, and STIHL are already involved in exploring investment opportunities across Nigeria’s economy.
Knill also pointed to the impact of existing cooperation programmes, stating that over 16,000 small and medium-sized enterprises have recorded income growth through joint initiatives, while about 600,000 smallholder farming households have benefited from training that improved productivity.
He further disclosed that more than 70,000 Nigerians are benefiting from mini-grid energy projects under the partnership, while Germany continues to support Nigeria’s Presidential Power Initiative aimed at expanding electricity generation capacity to 25 gigawatts.
The agreement reinforces both countries’ commitment to deepening economic ties through private-sector mobilisation, institutional cooperation, and large-scale infrastructure investment aligned with Nigeria’s national development plans.