President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja said Nigerians eagerly look forward to investments in infrastructure, especially the power sector, that would illuminate their homes and stimulate businesses.
Receiving Letter of Credence from the Ambassador of Germany, Birgitt Ory, at the State House, the president also assured German companies that the federal government would honour the terms of agreements on investments in the country.
The president said the agreements signed with Germany company, Siemens, on power was most welcoming for the country, and that Nigeria looks forward to partnerships that would be mutually beneficial.
He said the country remains grateful to Germany for humanitarian interventions in the North East for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and the visit of the Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to Nigeria in August 2018, which further strengthened bi-lateral relations.
In her remarks, the Ambassador Birgitt Ory said it was a great privilege to serve in Nigeria, which had always been her aspiration.
She said Nigeria is “the biggest and most important country in Africa.”
“When I came to Nigeria last year in May, which was also my first time in Africa, as soon as I stepped out of the plane, I said this is where I will like to work,’’ she said.
She also congratulated Nigeria for holding two key positions in the United Nations, Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed; and President of the UN General Assembly, Prof. Tijani Mohammad-Bande, saying the country’s rising global profile reflects its pivotal role in Africa and West African region.
The German envoy assured the president that she would work towards improved relations between the countries.
She commended the president for Nigeria’s role in ECOWAS, with renewed focus on economy and security.
President Buhari, who also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Ethiopia, Azanaw Tadesse Abreha, encouraged diplomats to stay longer in the country in order to understand the dynamics of the culture, economy and landscape, saying “Nigeria is big and versatile and requires longer period of stay to be understood.”
“With your staff at the embassy, you need to stay longer and move around to really appreciate the country,’’ he said.
He said the bilateral relations with Ethiopia had been steady and rewarding for the two countries, urging the ambassador to further strengthen the bond.
The Ethiopian ambassador said he would promote strategic relations between Nigeria and his country, promising to take “the relations to the highest level’’ of mutual respect.
