Mr. Armand Zorn, Deputy Chair of the SPD Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag, Berlin visits Nigeria

With over 230 million people, Nigeria—often called the “Giant of Africa”—continues to face serious economic challenges despite moderate growth. The removal of fuel subsidies and the naira floatation, though arguably necessary, have had harsh effects on the people, particularly in the absence of strong social protection. Inflation remains high, with transport and food costs soaring. Once Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria now ranks fourth, behind South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria. Yet Nigeria’s abundant resources and market potential continue to offer great opportunities for cooperation—especially with Germany.

Against this backdrop, Armand Zorn, Deputy Chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, visited Nigeria to understand the economic realities and explore paths for deeper collaboration.

In Abuja, he met Joe Ajero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Africa’s largest trade union federation with 4 million members. They discussed the harsh impacts of current reforms on workers. Zorn emphasized the critical role of trade unions in shaping global partnerships.

In Lagos, he joined a roundtable with leaders from Nigeria’s major unions in manufacturing, energy, informal economy, and oil & gas (including NUCFRLANMPE, NUEE, NUPENG, and FIWON). Union leaders urged inclusive policy responses to rising inflation and job insecurity. Prof. Ogunkola from the University of Ibadan stressed the need for fair and progressive taxation to finance development and protect vulnerable workers.

Looking ahead to 2025, Nigeria faces persistent inflation, fiscal pressure, and structural challenges. Participants called for investment in power, renewable energy, and transport—especially to benefit workers in the informal sector.