Speaker Abbas Urges EU to Deepen Investment and Engagement in Africa

By Our Reporter

ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, has called on the European Union (EU) to scale up its multilateral and bilateral engagements with African countries, particularly in the area of physical investments, noting that Asian countries are increasingly taking the lead in the region.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, Speaker Abbas emphasized the need for the EU to go beyond election monitoring and security support, and seize the opportunity presented by the U.S. withdrawal of foreign aid during the Donald Trump era to do more for Africa.

This was contained in a statement sogned by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Abdullahi Krishi made available to Precise Post.

The Speaker, accompanied by key lawmakers including the Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere; Minority Whip, Hon. Ali Isah; Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Wole Oke; and Chairman, House Parliamentary Friendship Group on Nigeria-EU, Hon. Abdulmaleek Danga, described the visit as historic, being the first such meeting in 2025.

He stressed the readiness of the National Assembly to deepen ties with the EU and promote mutual interests.

However, he raised concerns over the dwindling physical investments by the EU in Africa, despite the long-standing relationship between both sides.

“Asia is fast approaching Africa. You should have dominant investments and stakes in Africa. But what we have today is that the majority of the investments are coming from Asia,” Speaker Abbas said. “We don’t hear much from the EU these days as far as Africa is concerned, except in the area of elections and security. But when it comes to real investments, the EU is not actually progressing at the rate it should.”

Citing recent meetings with the ambassadors of China and India, he highlighted their ambitious and expanding investment plans in Nigeria and Africa, urging the EU to show similar commitment.

In response, Ambassador Mignot affirmed Nigeria’s status as a key partner for the EU, both presently and in the future. He assured that the EU remains committed to boosting investments in Nigeria, especially in sectors like science, technology, and innovation, while continuing humanitarian support.

He also emphasized the importance of a strengthened partnership between the EU Parliament and Nigeria’s National Assembly, advocating for improvements in Nigeria’s electoral framework, greater gender inclusion, and expanded democratic participation.

The meeting reaffirmed the mutual interest in revitalizing EU-Africa relations, with both parties expressing optimism for a more robust partnership going forward.