Women threshing rice in Sunu, Nigeria

    Nigeria

    Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with a population of about 220 million. It is also the continent's largest economy. Nigeria is one of the world's biggest oil producers.

    Straight to
    Gate in the Nigerian capital Abuja

    Current situation

    In May 2023, Bola Ahmed Tinubu became President. The people of Nigeria and the international community are hoping that he will launch key reform measures and lend new momentum to development.

    So far, the government of the West African country has not yet succeeded in using the country's wealth of raw materials to foster inclusive economic and social development. On the latest Human Development Index (HDI), Nigeria ranks 161st out of 193 countries.

    The development of the multi-ethnic country is hampered by social, ethnic and religious conflicts. In addition to a fragile security situation, challenges include high levels of corruption, administrative bodies that lack capacity and transparency, and a lack of economic diversification outside the country's urban centres. Extremely low tax revenues and a high level of public debt are severely restricting the government's capacity for broad-based poverty reduction.



    German development cooperation with Nigeria

    The overarching goal of Germany's development cooperation with Nigeria is to create employment and a better future for the country's population, which is very young. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has aligned its cooperation programme with the priorities of the Nigerian government: economic diversification, security, and poverty reduction.

    During the government negotiations in October 2022, the BMZ made available a total of 98.5 million euros for Nigeria. The core part of this was 67.5 million euros for Technical Cooperation and Financial Cooperation. The additional funding was provided for a regional food security fund and for the Special Initiatives “Transformation of Agricultural and Food Systems” and “Displaced Persons and Host Countries”.

    Nigerian-German development cooperation focuses on the following core areas:

    • Sustainable economic development, training and employment
      Areas of intervention: technical and vocational education and training, private sector and financial sector development, including the initiative areas “Digital technology and data” and “Making migration work for development”
    • Transformation of agricultural and food systems
      Areas of intervention: rural development, agriculture
    • Climate and energy, just transition
      Area of intervention: renewable energy and energy efficiency
    • Health, social protection and population dynamics
      Area of intervention: population dynamics; sexual and reproductive health and rights

    Other activities

    Islamist terrorism, gang crime and conflicts over resources are leading to displacement, lack of security and poverty in Nigeria. In addition to its involvement in the core areas mentioned above, the BMZ therefore assists Nigeria in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. Activities include support for internally displaced people, the development or reconstruction of social infrastructure, and assistance for communities in north-eastern Nigeria that are hosting large numbers of displaced persons. In central Nigeria, development cooperation is supporting efforts to defuse the ethnically and religiously charged conflict over resources between sedentary farmers and nomadic pastoralists.

    Germany also supports efforts undertaken by governmental and civil society institutions to fight corruption and facilitate transparent management of government funding.

    Workers at a small rice mill in Jega, Nigeria

    Core area “Sustainable economic development, training and employment” Improving training and employment opportunities

    Successful poverty reduction requires a significant expansion of job and income opportunities for the country's growing population. Nigerian-German development cooperation therefore focuses on creating a better environment for private sector activities.

    Green Innovation Centre Nigeria: Workshop where trainers learn, among other things, how far apart maize plants should be for optimal thriving.

    Core area “Transformation of agricultural and food systems” Modernising the agricultural sector, creating jobs, providing food security

    The Nigerian government wants to reduce the high level of unemployment (which is particularly high in rural areas). One avenue pursued by the government towards that end is the expansion and modernisation of the agricultural sector. The German Development Ministry (BMZ) is supporting efforts to improve productivity, develop agricultural value chains and provide loans to agricultural businesses.

    Solar-powered water reservoir in Ikot Ada Udo in the Niger delta

    Core area “Climate and energy, Just Transition” Supporting the energy transition

    In vast parts of Nigeria, electricity is only available for a few hours at a time, which is a major economic constraint. About three quarters of rural people are not connected to the grid but rely on environmentally harmful, expensive diesel generators for their power.

    Paediatric nurses in the premature baby ward at Nyangya General Hospital, Nigeria

    Core area “Health, social protection and population dynamics” Improving reproductive health

    In order to improve health services for the people, Germany is assisting Nigeria in improving the capacity of its health system. The focus is on maternal and child health, family planning and pandemic prevention.

    Current situation

    In comparison: SDG trends for Germany

    Further information

    As at: 02/02/2024