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Sub-Saharan Africa
Nigeria has some of the richest oil reserves in the world. Some 80 per cent of the state’s revenues are generated by oil and gas exports. But this wealth has so far benefited only a small elite, and is not used consistently to foster the country’s economic and social development. More than half the population live in poverty. That is twice as many as 25 years ago. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) expects that Nigeria will fail to meet almost every Millennium Development Goal.
Nigeria, the most populous state in Africa with a total population of some 155 million, suffers from ethnic, religious, regional, social and political tensions. About 250 ethnic groups compete for power and resources. Violent conflicts flare up repeatedly between the Muslim north of the country and the south, where the majority of the population is Christian, jeopardising the cohesion of the state. Long phases of authoritarian military rule have further worsened the instability of the country. Corruption, nepotism and inefficient state institutions are the legacy of these periods. They stand in the way of urgently needed investment in public infrastructure, especially in the power supply, highway construction and the education sector. This has made it almost impossible for the private sector to develop.
In spite of these massive development problems, Nigeria sees itself as an emerging economy, and is taking on responsibility on the international political stage as a representative of Africa: Nigeria provides the largest contingents of troops in United Nations military and police operations and is aiming to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in the medium term. The country has a major influence within the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS). Nigeria has been able to further expand its regional leadership through its military intervention in regional conflicts including those in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Nigerian-German development cooperation
In comparison to other African countries, development cooperation funds play a secondary role in Nigeria, where they account for less than one per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.
German development cooperation with Nigeria focuses on sustainable economic development, especially on the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In future, another priority area of cooperation is to be the field of renewable energies and energy efficiency. Nigeria and Germany have agreed to establish an Energy Partnership to this end. It will embrace inter alia joint programmes in the fields of hydropower, wind and solar energy. Other Nigerian-German projects are concerned with the health sector (tackling polio) and with strengthening women’s rights.
German Embassy

German Embassy in Nigeria
9, Lake Maracaibo Close, off Amazon Street
Maitama, Abuja F.C.T.
Phone: +234 / 9 / 220 80 10
Fax: +234 / 9 / 220 80 09






