French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday, September 17, highlighting the continuing high level engagement between Nigeria and France. According to Pulse Nigeria and Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the meeting reflected the “enduring relationship” between the two countries and their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. Tinubu arrived in Paris on September 13 as part of his three week leave in Europe, but his engagement with Macron adds a diplomatic dimension to the visit and reinforces the importance both governments place on their bilateral relationship.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of expanding Nigeria France economic and diplomatic relations, with cooperation spanning investment, trade, security, critical minerals, banking, agriculture and the creative economy. France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs identifies Nigeria as its leading commercial partner in sub Saharan Africa, accounting for 20% of France’s trade with the region. Bilateral trade reached €5.1 billion in 2023, according to French government data, while the two countries have continued to pursue closer economic ties since Tinubu’s state visit to France in November 2024. During that visit, both governments signed declarations of intent covering economic cooperation, sustainable investment, critical minerals, banking and creative and cultural industries.
Macron’s latest engagement with Tinubu therefore comes as Nigeria seeks to deepen foreign investment, trade partnerships and strategic economic cooperation with major international economies. The relationship is particularly relevant as France looks to strengthen its engagement with Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and one of the continent’s most influential political and commercial markets. Earlier this year, France’s ambassador to Nigeria also announced that Macron was expected to undertake a state visit to Nigeria, where both countries would review progress on their strategic partnership and establish priorities for the next phase of cooperation. The latest Élysée Palace meeting provides another platform for the two leaders to maintain momentum around that relationship, with investment, security and economic cooperation likely to remain central to future engagements.
