The Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, David MacAllister, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s importance to the European Union (EU), describing the country as a strategic partner and a key player in shaping Africa–EU relations.
MacAllister stated this on Monday during an official visit to Nigeria, where he led a six-member delegation of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, in Abuja.
He said the visit was aimed at deepening mutual understanding, exploring new areas of collaboration, and reinforcing political and economic ties between the EU and Nigeria.
“We are a delegation of six members from five different countries and three political groups in the European Parliament. This shows a cross-party interest in further strengthening relations between the European Union and Nigeria,” MacAllister said.
Describing Nigeria as an “indispensable ally,” he added: “Nigeria is considered a strategic partner for the European Union. We have a long-standing, close relationship based on shared values and common interests.”
According to him, the visit is part of the Parliament’s effort to engage directly with partner nations to better understand their challenges and opportunities. “We mainly travel to understand the countries we partner with, their challenges and opportunities, and to listen carefully,” he said.
MacAllister commended the Nigerian government for the productive discussions held, noting that the meeting covered a wide range of regional and global issues, including developments within the African Union, ECOWAS, and neighbouring countries.
“It was a great honour for us to be received by the Honourable Minister. He took over an hour and a half to discuss in detail many of our questions. We also discussed the evolution of the European Union, as both regions face enormous challenges,” he said.
Summing up the visit, he emphasized: “To put it in one sentence — Nigeria matters. Nigeria matters to us in the European Union, and we in the European Parliament are determined to deepen our strategic partnership with Nigeria.”
In his response, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar welcomed the delegation, describing the European Union as a vital partner in trade, security, and development.
“Any visit from the European Union is very important because Europe remains our largest trading partner, with trade volume not less than 31.8 billion euros,” Tuggar said.
He described Africa and Europe as “natural neighbours,” noting that their proximity should strengthen cooperation rather than divide them. “For those who understand a bit of Latin, ‘Mediterranean’ means ‘water in the middle of land.’ So where Europe and Africa are concerned, we are closer than we imagine,” he explained.
Tuggar highlighted that Nigeria’s collaboration with the EU extends beyond trade to areas such as regional stability, food security, 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 must create jobs, feed our people, and ensure a healthy population,” he said.
He also noted Nigeria’s recent admission as the 77th shareholder of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as a demonstration of the country’s commitment to global economic cooperation.
“We have much to learn from the European Union, which continues to integrate. It gives us hope and serves as a model. We will keep strengthening collaboration with the EU in all areas,” Tuggar added.
Other members of the European Parliament delegation included Christophe Thomas (France), Jaliana Lefebvre (Croatia), Marta Emigo (Portugal), and Tim Kenan (Finland).
