In an endeavour to strengthen relations with the most populous nation on the African continent, the German chancellor resumed his visit to Nigeria on Monday.
Regarding the management of migration, particularly the repatriation of Nigerians who lacked the legal right to remain in Germany, Scholz advocated for a greater collaboration with Nigeria.
In addition, the Chancellor discussed possible energy cooperation between the two countries as Germany seeks to diversify its natural gas supply.
To assist German returnees, the German chancellor suggested enlarging migratory hubs in Nigeria. According to Scholz, the centres might also be used to counsel highly qualified individuals to settle down in Germany.
“This requires some preparation and investment — on both sides,” Scholz said, adding that he had spoken about the issue with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Sunday.
“I am convinced that this is another area where we can exploit enormous potential arising from closer cooperation between our two countries and between our two continents,” Scholz said, speaking at an economic forum in the coastal city of Lagos on Monday.
According to Tinubu, if migrants are Nigerians, he is in favour of their return.
Since their identification cannot be confirmed, proving this may be the trickiest component of the plan.
Approximately 12,500 of the over 14,000 Nigerian asylum seekers who were forced to flee Germany are permitted to remain, primarily due to the lack of identity documents.
Prior to the trip, which will also include a visit to Ghana, Scholz disclosed in an interview that he was looking to buy natural gas from the nation, which also happens to have the largest economy in Africa.
“Nigeria has the biggest gas supply in Africa,” Scholz told the Nigerian daily The Punch. “German companies are interested in gas deliveries from Nigeria and look forward to cooperation with Nigerian gas companies.”
Germany does not import gas, while already importing significant amounts of crude oil from Nigeria.
According to the chancellor, Berlin is also looking into “joint initiatives to ramp up the hydrogen market,” since it is anticipated that hydrogen will be crucial to supplying energy in the future.
However, the significance of LNG imports has increased because the hydrogen market is still developing and Russia is no longer supplying natural gas to Germany.
Norway is now Germany’s primary source of LNQ, although Nigeria has become a possibility as well.
“Nigeria has an ambitious plan for the energy transition,” Scholz said at an economic forum in Lagos on Monday. “And you are also well positioned to remain a key player for renewable energy and hydrogen — as well as for liquefied natural gas, which we will continue to need in the coming years until the hydrogen market is fully established.”
The German chancellor also pointed out that there was potential for greater cooperation and investment between the two countries in other sectors.
“This applies to a variety of sectors, ranging from infrastructure and energy to agriculture business, mineral resources, information and communication technologies, transport and logistics, and beyond,” he told The Punch.
Scholz further noted that, with direct German investments in Nigeria totalling €150 million ($158 million) in 2021, Nigeria was Germany’s second-largest commercial partner in sub-Saharan Africa.
According to Scholz, Germany should increase its assistance to Nigeria’s police and military forces in their efforts to combat Islamist terror organisations like Boko Haram, which is active in the country’s north-east.
The extremist group has progressively taken over large areas of territory and commits brutal atrocities against civilians.
Following the overthrow of a military government in 1999, Nigeria has become one of the most stable democracies in West Africa.
