President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is hosting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the State House in Abuja as part of the latter’s three-day state visit to Nigeria, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.
President Steinmeier arrived at the Forecourt of the State House at 11:06 a.m., where he was warmly received by President Tinubu and members of the Federal Executive Council.
His arrival was marked by a series of ceremonial honours, including the playing of the German anthem, Deutschland über alles, and the Nigerian national anthem. The visiting president also reviewed a guard of honour mounted by the Brigade of Guards and was honoured with a 21-gun salute.
A statement released by the German Embassy explained the purpose of Steinmeier’s visit, stating that it seeks to “deepen Nigeria-Germany relations.” During his stay in Abuja, the German President is scheduled to meet with the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Alieu Omar Touray.
President Steinmeier’s itinerary extends beyond Abuja to Lagos, where he will engage with key figures in Nigeria’s business, cultural, and civil society sectors. In Lagos, he is expected to interact with business leaders, visit a start-up hub, and hold discussions with notable cultural figures, including Dr. Nike Okundaye of the Nike Art Gallery and Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka.
This visit is part of a series of recent high-level exchanges between the two countries. It follows German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to Nigeria in October and President Tinubu’s official trip to Germany in November. These interactions reflect the growing collaboration between Nigeria and Germany since President Tinubu assumed office.
The German Embassy also emphasised the significance of this visit in a statement, noting that it “underscores the robust bilateral relationship and Germany’s appreciation of Nigeria’s role on the international stage.”
