News from Berlin - Reporting from Berlin during talks with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday, Nigeria's foreign minister Aminu Wali released some good news regarding the conflict with Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

To quote: "I can say with some optimism, cautious optimism, that we are moving towards a situation where we'll be able to, in the very near future, get back our girls." Following conversations between the Nigerian and German governments on the conflict in Nigeria and cooperation between the countries, Wali continued "There is a tremendous amount of improvement in terms of the discussions that are going on now and also the possibility of having total cessation of hostilities and at the same time bringing back the girls and also normalcy in that part of northern Nigeria."

This conversation follows a surprise announcement on Friday, when Nigeria announced a ceasefire deal with Boko Haram that would bring an end to their five-year uprising and bring home the 219 girls seized from the northeastern town of Chibok. In response to the announcement, Steinmeier said he hoped that the ceasefire would lead to the release of the girls, declaring in the same statement that himself along with French counterpart Laurent Fabius will pay a visit to Nigeria this weekend, October 24th.

This news along with the fact that Nigeria was this week declared free of the Ebola virus, presents good news for the nation, the announcement has become "one of the few rays of light in the fight against Ebola". In relation to this deadly virus, the German government has approved the release of five million Euro to Nigeria for security purposes.

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country with a booming economy and good future prospects, diplomatic ties with Germany are close, evidenced by German investment in Nigeria. This investment includes a confirmed grant of 21.5 million Euro for the promotion of renewable energy, plans by Germany to build four solar power plants in the north of the country and another 15 million Euro grant for the eradication of polio in Nigeria. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, made this disclosure at the end of the second Nigeria-Germany Bi-National Commission (BNC), held in Berlin.

News from Berlin - Berlin Global