German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed his interest in investing in Nigerian gas and critical minerals during his visit to sub-Saharan Africa. Scholz aims to diversify and secure Germany’s energy supply by importing natural gas from Nigeria. He believes that if more countries offer their natural gas on the global market, it will lead to lower global prices. President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has also encouraged German businesses to invest in gas pipelines in the country. Germany has been facing challenges in securing gas supplies, and importing gas from Nigeria would provide an alternative energy source. In addition to gas, Nigeria is also looking to attract investors to its mining sector, which currently contributes less than 1% to the country’s GDP. There are abundant unexploited mineral resources in Nigeria, including gold, iron ore, and lithium. Scholz has hinted at the possibility of German companies building railways in Nigeria, which is currently being done by China. Scholz will also visit Ghana and discuss cooperation with the West African regional group ECOWAS to prevent military coups from becoming a trend in the region.
