Germany has pledged €10 million ($11.4 million) to support the return and reintegration of people displaced by insurgency in northeastern Nigeria as Berlin reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening security cooperation with Africa’s largest economy.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul during a visit to Abuja, where he held talks with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
Wadephul said the funding, scheduled for disbursement this year, will support communities previously occupied by Boko Haram and militants linked to the Islamic State, helping displaced residents return and rebuild their lives.
The German minister warned that worsening insecurity across the Sahel continues to threaten the stability of coastal West African countries, describing Nigeria as a frontline state in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
“The spillover effects of the crisis in the Sahel are increasingly threatening all coastal states in the region,” Wadephul said.
He commended Nigeria’s role in tackling regional insecurity, noting that the country has remained at the forefront of efforts to combat terrorism despite persistent attacks by insurgent groups.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said sustained international cooperation remains critical to addressing terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime and other cross-border security challenges confronting West Africa.
Beyond security, both ministers discussed ways to deepen economic cooperation between Nigeria and Germany.
Wadephul described Nigeria as a strategic partner for Germany, citing its position as West Africa’s largest economy and a leading member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He disclosed that bilateral trade between both countries expanded by about 10 percent over the past year, while more than 100 German companies currently operate in Nigeria, underscoring growing commercial ties between the two nations.
The visit marks Wadephul’s first official trip to Nigeria and reflects Germany’s continued interest in strengthening both security and economic relations with the country amid growing regional instability in the Sahel.