Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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140. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if construction works have commenced on a new Chancery Building in Abuja, Nigeria; and the estimated completion timeframe for this building. [18045/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Construction work on a new Chancery Building in Abuja, Nigeria is anticipated to start in May 2023.  On commencement, the estimated timeframe for building completion and fit out is 21 months. The new Chancery will be located on the European Union compound in Abuja, a high security location for the work of the Irish Embassy team.

This Embassy building project will support the achievement of the high level goals of Global Ireland: Ireland’s Strategy for Africa to 2025. These goals are to deepen and strengthen Ireland’s political, economic and cultural relationships with Africa, thereby contributing to peace, prosperity and sustainable development.  The project is also a demonstration of the importance of Ireland’s bilateral relationship with Nigeria and with the West Africa region more broadly.   

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation (220 million) and largest economy (circa $ 450 billion). Nigeria remains one of Ireland’s largest trading partners in Africa and in 2021 represented Ireland’s second-largest African export market, with exports worth €297 million.  The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is also headquartered in Abuja, and provides an important means to engage with all fifteen ECOWAS member States and their combined population exceeding 400 million people.