The European Union (EU) says it intends to work with Bola
Tinubu, the president-elect, to build a mutually beneficial relationship with
Nigeria.
Samuela Isopi, EU ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS), spoke on Tuesday during the
celebration of Europe Day in Abuja.
Isopi said the EU is Nigeria’s biggest trading partner and
is looking forward to working with the new administration for further gains.
“A democratic, peaceful, strong, and prosperous Nigeria is
in the interest of Europe and the world,” she said.
“The EU is already
Nigeria’s biggest trading partner, accounting for more than 20 percent of
Nigerian trade with the world and a significant trade balance in favour of
Nigeria.
“The EU is also Nigeria’s first partner in foreign direct
investments with an estimated foreign direct investment stock of over 30
billion euros.
“EU companies contribute to the economic diversification and
growth, to job creation and wealth generation. We are keen to do more
together.”
Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, said the EU
remains a model of growth for Nigeria.
He said the EU proved global opinions wrong by becoming a
stronger institution of great repute after Brexit.
“The transformation of all the member states is the model
Nigeria and Africa want to emulate, by having a conflict-free Africa,” he said.
Onyeama said the EU and Nigeria share values such as
multilateralism and rules-based order, adding that “we are both enriched by
unity in diversity” bound by shared values and by a common interest to work
even more closely together.
He said the union would strengthen the fight against violent
extremism and insecurity in the north-east of the country, in West Africa and
in the Gulf of Guinea.
The minister added that the partnership between the EU and
the incoming administration will “further boost our trade, investment, digital
and energy cooperation from supporting the continuous deepening of Nigeria’s growing
democracy”.
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