German Consul General Daniel Krull and Lagos State Secretary to the Government Bimbola Salu‑Hundeyin met on 3 November at the German Consulate General in Victoria Island, Lagos, to outline plans for stronger collaboration in technology, trade, education and energy, with a particular focus on information technology for 2027.
Krull described Nigeria as Germany’s most important trading partner in West Africa and a key political ally, noting shared interests in expanding international trade and reforming the United Nations Security Council. He said Germany’s development cooperation portfolio in Nigeria exceeds €700 million in grants and loans, and that the German government aims to align aid more closely with private‑sector investment.
He cited the SEED project near Abeokuta, a partnership involving Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Power and [Siemens Energy](https://www.siemens- energy.com/), as a concrete example. Backed by Germany and the European Union, the initiative seeks to train over 5,000 Nigerian technicians for the energy sector. Krull also highlighted smart‑grid solutions and energy‑storage systems as areas where German firms could bolster Nigeria’s renewable‑energy ambitions, noting that the Lagos consulate already relies heavily on solar power.
On digital infrastructure, Krull said Germany is prepared to explore a model similar to its support for a national cloud system in Saudi Arabia, and he pointed to opportunities in digital currency and cross‑border African trade.
What sector holds the most promise for 2027?
Krull identified information technology as the area with the strongest growth potential. “I think the most exciting sector will be the IT sector,” he told ARISE News. “We have strong German companies present here in Lagos and I see a huge potential for growth. Many IT systems in Nigeria are already running on German software and SAP.”
He added that Germany’s post‑World‑War II experience of rebuilding unity could offer lessons for Nigeria’s own development challenges. Krull also mentioned academic cooperation, citing scholarships awarded to Nigerian researchers by the German Academic Exchange Service and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
How does Lagos view the partnership?
Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu, Salu‑Hundeyin said Lagos is eager to deepen ties with Germany, pointing to the sizable German business community and expatriate population in the state. She emphasized technology exchange, trade and cultural collaboration, noting that Lagos can benefit from German expertise while promoting Nigerian products, services and culture.
In prepared remarks, she recalled that diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Germany have spanned 66 years, with German businesses, educational institutions and cultural organisations contributing to Lagos’s development. “There are friendships between nations that extend beyond the agreement that governments sign. They are sustained by generations of people who work together, exchange ideas, establish businesses, and build lasting relationships,” she said.
She concluded that Germany’s industrial and technological strengths, combined with Nigeria’s entrepreneurial spirit, create ample room for mutually beneficial cooperation.
What changes are coming to visa processing?
Krull announced that Germany has increased visa‑application slots through external service providers and plans to expand the number and quality of visa counters at its Lagos consulate before the end of 2026. He also disclosed that more applications will be transferred to a service centre in Germany for remote processing. A new centre to verify academic documents from Nigerian universities, research institutes and schools is near completion, and verification will become mandatory for Nigerians applying for German study visas.
The celebration featured cultural performances by Ade Bantu and friends, including Nneka and Oge Kimono, marking the 36th anniversary of German Unity Day, observed annually on 3 October to commemorate the 1990 reunification of East and West Germany.