Netherlands seeks stronger Nigeria ties on food security, ports

The Netherlands has expressed readiness to deepen trade and economic relations with Nigeria, with particular focus on agricultural development, food security, port modernisation and intelligence-sharing to combat drug trafficking across West Africa.

 The Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lagos, Frank Keurhorst, disclosed this during an intimate press parley on Netherlands-Nigeria relations held in Lagos on Wednesday.

 Keurhorst, alongside other consulate officials, said the Netherlands was interested in expanding its involvement in Nigeria’s agro-industrial value chain, improving agricultural exports and strengthening cooperation between the two countries’ law enforcement agencies.

 He said the Netherlands had invested €47m in Nigeria’s agricultural sector over the past four years and trained 17,000 farmers in the last three years, while supporting access to improved seeds and planting materials.

 “We also want to increase horticultural production for export. Export is one of the sectors that the Nigerian government wants to focus on to become more competitive and generate more revenue,” Keurhorst said.

 He identified vegetable and potato production as priority areas under the Netherlands’ horticultural development programme, adding that Dutch companies would continue to collaborate with Nigerian partners to improve agricultural productivity and resilience to climate change.

 The consul general said the Netherlands had expertise in developing climate-resistant seeds and technologies that could help Nigerian farmers address pests and other agricultural challenges.

 He also highlighted opportunities for collaboration in cold-chain infrastructure, irrigation and solar-powered storage systems to reduce post-harvest losses and improve food preservation.

 “We have launched an initiative in Lagos called the Polar Store. It is a solar-powered technology to enhance cold-chain infrastructure to keep everything fresh for agriculture and pharmaceuticals,” he said.

 On port operations, Keurhorst said the Netherlands was ready to contribute its expertise in port modernisation, dredging, coastal engineering, shipbuilding and logistics as Nigeria pursued the renovation of its ports.

 He commended the Federal Government for its plans to upgrade Lagos ports, noting that Dutch companies already had significant experience working with Nigerian port authorities.

 “We have relevant expertise in port modernisation. Rotterdam used to be the largest port for many decades until Asian ports overtook it, but we have a lot of expertise in design, dredging, coastal engineering, nature-based solutions and port logistics,” he said.

 Keurhorst identified Dutch companies Boskalis and Royal Haskoning as organisations actively involved in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

 He also disclosed that APM Terminals had announced a potential investment to further develop the Apapa port in Lagos, while a consortium of Dutch companies had expressed interest in conducting a feasibility study on coastal protection in Lagos.

 On security cooperation, the consul general said the Netherlands was strengthening intelligence-sharing arrangements with Nigerian authorities to tackle the movement of illicit drugs, particularly cocaine, through West Africa.

 He explained that the Dutch government had considered establishing a police attaché presence in West Africa to improve cooperation with regional law enforcement agencies, given the importance of physical engagement in intelligence gathering and investigations.

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 Keurhorst said the Netherlands had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Nigeria Customs Service to facilitate information-sharing and improve cooperation against organised crime and drug trafficking.

 He recalled that Dutch customs officials had visited Nigeria, where the Comptroller-General of Customs hosted them and facilitated visits to airport and cargo operations to familiarise them with the country’s customs processes.

 “We have an MOU signed with the Nigerian Customs to share information, so there are bilateral agreements in place,” he said.

 However, he acknowledged that he did not have immediate figures on the results of the intelligence-sharing arrangement but promised to obtain and share the relevant data.

 The consul general also said the Netherlands was working with Nigerian authorities to address trade barriers affecting Dutch businesses operating in the country.

 He identified customs procedures, double taxation and foreign exchange challenges as some of the issues that had previously affected businesses, adding that engagement with the relevant government agencies had produced improvements.

 According to him, the introduction of the Nigeria Customs Service’s B’Odogwu platform has helped streamline clearance procedures by allowing importers to process documentation before their goods arrive in the country.

 He described the current Customs management as more receptive to addressing trade barriers and said Dutch customs officials had also shared technical knowledge with their Nigerian counterparts.

 “We have this knowledge transfer with the Dutch customs. The Dutch customs also came to Nigeria, and they were hosted by the Nigerian Customs. So, it’s a collaboration, and it seems to be working, particularly with agencies that are proactive and looking towards solutions,” he said.

 Keurhorst said the Netherlands and Nigeria maintained significant trade relations, describing Nigeria as the Netherlands’ largest trading partner in Africa and the Netherlands as Nigeria’s second-largest trading partner based on the previous year’s figures.

 He put average bilateral trade between the two countries at €6bn, equivalent to almost $7bn, over the past four years.

 He said trade covered petroleum products, cocoa, other agricultural commodities and seafood.

 The consul general further identified renewable energy, water infrastructure, healthcare and the circular economy as other areas where Dutch businesses could support Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.

 He said Dutch companies had created more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria through partnerships with local businesses, including Nigerian Breweries, FrieslandCampina, APM Terminals and KLM.

 Keurhorst also urged Nigeria to sustain its economic reforms and address structural challenges, particularly electricity supply, transparency and fiscal uncertainty, which he said continued to constrain investment.

 He said the Netherlands remained committed to supporting Nigeria’s economic diversification through partnerships involving businesses, government agencies, knowledge institutions and civil society.