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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The European Union (EU) and Nigeria have reaffirmed their strengthened strategic partnership, with both sides pledging to expand investments, trade and private sector collaboration as economic cooperation between them continues to gather momentum.
This commitment was reaffirmed at the 10th Nigeria–EU Business Forum in Lagos, where senior government officials, European institutions, development finance partners and business leaders met to explore new opportunities for sustainable economic growth.
The forum, held under the theme “Enhancing Sustainable Investment Together,” marked the first major business engagement since Nigeria and the EU elevated their relationship to a strengthened strategic partnership during the March 2026 EU–Nigeria ministerial meeting.
Ambassador of the EU to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described the forum as the first tangible outcome of the enhanced partnership, stressing that: “Today’s Business Forum is the first concrete illustration of this common purpose.”
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He noted that the EU currently accounts for 31 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign trade and remains the country’s largest source of foreign direct investment.
He further noted that bilateral cooperation is being strengthened through the EU’s global gateway strategy, expanded European investment bank operations, the commencement of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development activities in Nigeria, enhanced Team Europe coordination and a structured Nigeria–EU trade and investment dialogue.
Delivering the keynote on behalf of Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahra Mustapha Audu, described the Nigeria–EU relationship as a strategic economic alliance that goes beyond diplomatic engagement.
She disclosed that the partnership supports more than €35 billion in annual trade; approximately €26 billion in European foreign direct investment and over 130,000 direct jobs across Nigeria.
According to her, the Nigeria–EU Business Forum has evolved into a platform that translates shared aspirations into investments, commercial partnerships, policy reforms and measurable development outcomes.
