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Musings From Abroad

Chancellor Scholz insists Germany open to migrants but only through legal route

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Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, has stated that talents from Nigeria and other African countries are needed in Germany, but in a manner that is consistent with the visa process.

Scholz made this statement on Sunday during his reception at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with President Bola Tinubu and his entourage in response to the Nigerian government’s purported refusal to receive more than 12,000 Nigerians who were ineligible for Germany’s asylum programme and in danger of being deported.

“The first is yes, there is a need, in Germany, for people that have talent and that want to work in our country in a way that is a regular path for migrants,” Scholz said.

“We are working intensely in this field, and we want to make more progress and get things agreed in detail.

“The second part of this is also an agreement that those who do not have the right to stay in my country can and should go back.

“But this is where cooperation is also important; we will do so and it will be an important aspect of our work together”, he added.

Speaking about the return of Nigerians who could not qualify for asylum in Germany, Tinubu revealed that both nations were attempting to regularise the stay of individuals who were economic refugees.

“We have a programme to work in partnership to really ensure normal migration and deepen the relationship in that area. I’m not making any demands; if they are Nigerian citizens, they are Nigerian citizens, and they are welcome back home.

“Nothing should send them away; we are ready to enter into a partnership to improve the migration situation. Other young and vibrant people can go through the process according to the immigration law of the country to be accepted, as long as they are of good behaviour and good character.

“We are ready to work together in that direction,” Tinubu said.

Nigeria is one of Germany’s strongest allies in Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria is Germany’s second-largest commercial partner, with cooperation in the energy industry a priority for bilateral economic ties. The restoration and development of electricity production in Nigeria, particularly through the use of renewable energy sources and increased energy efficiency, as well as the increased involvement of German businesses in utilising Nigeria’s energy resources, are the key priority areas.

Musings From Abroad

Nigeria, India to strengthen counterterrorism, maritime security cooperation

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During a state visit to Nigeria on Sunday, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra, Modi reached an agreement, on behalf of his country, to strengthen cooperation in counterterrorism, intelligence, and maritime security.

President Bola Tinubu invited Modi to visit Nigeria, the first Indian prime minister to do so in 17 years.

Tinubu is looking for investments from some of the largest economies in the world.

In addition to discussing economic development, defence, healthcare, and food security, Modi and Tinubu met at the presidential mansion on Sunday after arriving in the capital, Abuja, on Saturday night, according to a joint statement.

The two nations decided to work together to protect maritime trade routes and fight piracy in response to the mounting risks in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea.

The most populous country in Africa, Nigeria, is looking to attract more Indian investment and lower-cost credit lines in order to strengthen its economy and generate employment.

Nigeria announced last year that it had obtained about $14 billion in pledges from Indian businesses, including Jindal Steel and Power, which promised to spend $3 billion in Nigeria’s steel industry, during the G20 conference.

Over 200 Indian businesses are present in Nigeria.

Modi was scheduled to go to Brazil for this year’s G20 conference after Nigeria.

Nigeria and India have a long-standing and cordial bilateral relationship. Nigeria, home to more than 200 million people, and India, home to 1.3 billion people, are both sizable emerging nations with multilingual, multiethnic, and multireligious communities.

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Musings From Abroad

Military advisors from Russia arrive Equatorial Guinea

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Russian military advisors are in Equatorial Guinea training indigenous soldiers.

Anonymous sources cited by Reuters during the week claim that between 100 and 200 Russian instructors are training with elite guards in charge of guarding the President and the first family.

The males had been seen in Malabo, the country’s capital, and Bata, its second city. Reports of Russian forces stationed in the nation initially appeared in August.

Oil-rich Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has maintained close relations with Moscow.

Nguema travelled to Moscow in September to attend the Russian Energy Week International Forum.

Russia has strengthened military connections with African countries, sending advisors and combat soldiers to the Central African Republic, Mozambique, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

Faced with an Islamist terrorist insurrection, three Sahel countries have turned to Moscow for support, expelling French and American troops.

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