Fidelia Okafor.

The German parliament has thrown its weight behind the ongoing economic recovery efforts in Nigeria, noting that the biggest African economy deserves the support of a European giant like Germany.

Head of Bundestrat, the upper chamber of the German Parliament, Ms Malu Dreyer, stated this, while receiving a delegation of the Nigerian Senate led by its President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in Berlin.

She said that Germany attached great importance to the strong relationship with Nigeria and would support the on-going economic recovery programme in the country.

Germany will also look toward extending the special partnership and grassroots co-operation which it presently has with Rwanda, to Nigeria, and that more exchange programmes between the two countries should be initiated.

The Bundestrat President who has just one year tenure, in line with the country’s federal constitution, promised to raise the request made by Senator Saraki for stronger economic co-operation with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel and Secretary in charge of Economic Co-operation and Development, Mr. Muller.

“The partnership between Nigeria and Germany is very important and should be nurtured. This partnership at a very high level can help the entire population in Nigeria.  We have to do all that is necessary to support Africa to prevent internal crisis that would later plague Europe.

We should empower African nations to enable the people and their governments take their fate into their own hands. We have a gain to make from this co-operation. We are faced with refugee situation and to save ourselves the escalation of this problem, we have to tackle the root cause of migration by helping African countries to be economically strong and buoyant. That is why we must help Africa” she said.

Exchange programmes

On renewable energy, Dreyer said Germany would be ready to help Nigeria through exchange of technical information and exchange programmes as the clean source of power is the future of energy resources, and her country had made much progress in the area.

Dr. Saraki while responding to the message of his German counterpart reiterated the need for Germany to partner with Nigeria in the areas of economic co-operation, security and renewable energy, as both are continental leaders whose well being have positive implications for Africa and Europe.

He noted that the Senate delegation was in Berlin to strengthen the existing relationship between both countries as represented by the visit of the German President to Nigeria last year in company of some businessmen.

“We appreciate cordial relationship between Germany and Nigeria. We need German support as our government works hard through progressive policies and legislations aimed at overcoming our current challenges and engaging our youths who form about 70 percent of the population.

It may be true that we have economic challenges but the fundamentals remain good and even the prospects are better. That is why we are seriously working to diversify the economy and move away from the dependence on oil. We are moving into agriculture, mining of numerous mineral resources and manufacturing. These areas alongside energy production and funding of key infrastructural projects are areas that German business people can invest in.”

The Senate President said power was one area where Nigeria required serious help as its inadequacy affected the success of businesses and limited the productive ability of the people.