By Enyichukwu Enemanna
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday evening arrived in Nigeria, as he commenced a three-day working visit to Africa, a trip that will see him touch down South Africa and Lesotho.
Steinmeier arrived at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, in Nigeria’s capital Abuja and was received by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
During his visit, Steinmeier is scheduled to meet with Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) President Omar Touray in the Nigerian capital among other high profile engagements.
Ahead of the visit, Steinmeier’s office described Nigeria and South Africa as two of the most important economic players on the African continent.
The German President is being accompanied by a business delegation at the visit aiming to enhance bilateral political and economic ties between both countries.
The German President will later travel to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub where he plans to interact with business leaders, visit a start-up hub, and meet prominent figures from Nigeria’s cultural and civil society sectors, including Dr. Nike Okundaye and Prof. Wole Soyinka.
While in Lagos, Steinmeier will also tour the city to explore its urban development, focusing on environmental and social challenges facing the megacity.
According to Steinmeier’s office, Nigeria carried great diplomatic weight and was an anchor of stability in West Africa.
The German President will also show appreciation to South Africa for taking over the G-20 presidency earlier this month at a difficult time, it said.
At the end of the trip, Steinmeier is expected to become the first German head of state to visit the landlocked mountain kingdom of Lesotho.
