‘If You Invite Me To Lagos, I Will Be Happy To Come,’- Angela Merkel Tells Chimamanda

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has said that you can’t claim to have been in Nigeria without a visit to Lagos State.

Merkel, 67, also admitted that she wished she stayed in Nigeria longer during her visit back in August 2018.

The Chancellor said these when she appeared as guest speakers alongside Chimaamanda Ngozi Adichie at a panel held at the Düsseldorf’s Schauspielhaus.

Merkel said, “Another nice point we have in common. You know I was very happy to be in Nigeria, I would have loved to be able to spend more time in the country and to learn more about it. The thing about traveling to Africa today is that people tend to underestimate the enormous distances they have to cover.

“We are talking enormous distances from East to West and from the South to North of course Nigeria in itself is a giant country and a large country with many different ethnic groups.

“And I don’t think you can claim that you have been in Nigeria if you haven’t been to Lagos where life is most heating in Lagos.”

The German Chancellor who is one of the country’s longest serving chancellors in modern history is preparing to leave office later in September this year after 16 years in the role.

When asked by Chimamanda about spending her free time in Lagos after leaving office, Merkel said she was willing to visit Nigeria’s economic hub, Lagos if the award winning writer invites her.

She said, “Absolutely, it might well be that I will visit African countries. Indeed you know it is really very interesting to say that people might, not be aware of that. For decades German politicians tended to visit East Africa of course and South Africa, but the West African part of the continent has been somehow neglected.

“Yes, if you were to receive me (in Lagos), I will be happy to come.”