Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that her country is keen to provide more legal pathways for migration to Nigerian citizens.

She made the remark during a joint press conference with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

Nigeria is the last stop on the German leader’s tour of West Africa.

Mrs Merkel said she also wanted to increase the number of Nigerians studying in Germany, which currently stands at 1,200.

She added that Germany would do more to share its expertise in technical and vocational training with Nigeria.

Mrs Merkel and President Buhari said they had agreed that human trafficking and illegal migration could only be tackled if economic opportunities were provided for young people.

There are currently an estimated 30,000 Nigerians living illegally in Germany.

Mrs Merkel said she's also keen to deepen economic ties with Nigeria beyond the industrial sector.

The two leaders signed deals in agriculture and car production, including agreeing to providing credit to farmers.

Mrs Merkel is the second Western leader to visit Nigeria this week. The British Prime Minister Theresa May also travelled to Abuja and Lagos on Wednesday.