- Pledges to Deepen Long-standing Partnership
The Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, David MacAllister, has declared that Nigeria remains a vital partner of the European Union (EU), stressing that “Nigeria matters to us.”
MacAllister made the statement on Monday in Abuja during an official visit by a six-member delegation of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee to Nigeria. The delegation met with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, to explore ways to strengthen bilateral ties and expand areas of collaboration.
According to MacAllister, the visit underscored the EU’s commitment to deepening relations with Africa’s largest democracy. “Nigeria is considered a strategic partner for the European Union. We have a long-lasting, good and close relationship based on shared values and joint interests,” he said.
He explained that the delegation, drawn from five countries and three political groups, reflected a broad, cross-party commitment to advancing EU–Nigeria relations. “We mainly travel to understand the challenges and opportunities of partner countries and to listen carefully,” he added.
MacAllister also commended Minister Tuggar for a productive engagement, noting that their discussion covered key regional and global issues, including developments within ECOWAS, the African Union, and the EU itself. “To sum up in one sentence—Nigeria matters. Nigeria matters for us in the European Union, and we are very keen to deepen our strategic partnership,” he emphasized.
In his remarks, Ambassador Tuggar described the European Union as a critical partner in trade, security, and development. He highlighted that Europe remains Nigeria’s largest trading partner, with trade volume exceeding €31.8 billion.
“Europe and Africa are natural neighbours,” Tuggar said, emphasizing the geographical and historical ties binding both continents. “We are closer than we imagine.”
The minister noted that the partnership between Nigeria and the EU goes beyond trade, extending to food security, regional stability, and job creation. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made food security his top priority because we are a nation of 230 million people, projected to reach 400 million by 2050. We are in a race against time to feed our people and create jobs,” he added.
Tuggar also pointed to Nigeria’s recent admission as the 77th shareholder of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as evidence of growing global cooperation. “We have a lot to learn from the European Union, which continues to integrate successfully. It serves as a model for regional collaboration,” he said.
Other members of the European Parliament delegation included Christophe Thomas (France), Jaliana Lefebvre (Croatia), Marta Emigo (Portugal), and Tim Kenan (Finland).
