German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday that Germany’s partnership with ECOWAS aimed to improve the region in various sectors.

Mr Scholz, at a press briefing held at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on the sidelines of his visit to Nigeria, said his country had renewed its financial commitment to the tune of €81 million ($85.4 million) to ECOWAS to address areas such as energy and peacebuilding amongst others.

Germany’s Federal Development Ministry (BMZ), in September, announced plans to ramp up the country’s financial support of the ECOWAS after a meeting between German Development Minister Svenja Schulze and Ecowas Vice President Damtien Tchintchibidja in Berlin.

He said, “We have enjoyed the partnership in the areas of support for the regions.

“Our mission in this is to improve the ECOWAS countries and its region. Our cooperation was felt during the pandemic, and we plan further to deepen our relation with ECOWAS.”

Mr Scholz said the move came when ECOWAS tried to restore stability to West Africa following six coups since 2020.

“Also, we stand with not accepting coup, and when we look at the coup in Niger, and that is why we want to deepen our cooperation,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the president of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, said the chancellor’s visit symbolised the importance of Germany-ECOWAS cooperation.

He said that recently, they had concluded the agreement of €81 million that the German government and its people had committed to boost the ECOWAS region in several areas.

“Those are vital areas, as I have indicated; they cover areas such as peaceful and inclusive society, climate, energy transition, sustainable economy development, health, social protection and population,” he said.

Mr Touray further added that during their brief meeting before the press briefing, they both discussed the challenges faced by the region on insecurity, infrastructure deficit and social development.

(NAN)