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By Ayo Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron have reaffirmed the enduring friendship between Nigeria and France and their commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries.
The reaffirmation followed a private dinner hosted by Macron for Tinubu at the Elysée Palace in Paris on Thursday evening, as the Nigerian president concluded his working holiday in Europe.
Tinubu, in a statement on his verified X handle on Friday, said his discussions with Macron were focused on relations between the two countries and the need to further strengthen their partnership.
“It was a pleasure to share a private dinner with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Présidence de la République in Paris.
“Our conversation reaffirmed the strong friendship between Nigeria and France, as well as our shared commitment to deepen cooperation and build a mutually beneficial partnership between our two nations. I thank President Macron Emmanuel Macron for his warm hospitality and friendship,” the president wrote.
French President Macron hosted Nigerian President Tinubu at a private dinner at the Elysée Palace in Paris on Thursday evening, as the Nigerian president concluded his working holiday in Europe
The commitment was made known earlier by Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said that Macron had received the Nigerian leader at the presidential palace for a private dinner.
According to Onanuga, the meeting reflects the enduring relationship between Abuja and Paris and their shared determination to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The dinner represents another high-level contact between Tinubu and Macron at a time when Nigeria is seeking to broaden its international economic partnerships and attract more foreign capital to the country.
Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu has placed investment mobilization at the center of many of his international engagements, presenting Nigeria’s large consumer market, natural resources and ongoing economic reforms as opportunities for foreign investors.
France has played a leading role in these efforts, with the Nigerian administration seeking to deepen economic relations with French companies and institutions beyond traditional areas of diplomatic and development cooperation.
The latest meeting also builds on Tinubu’s state visit to France in November 2024, when Macron hosted the Nigerian president for high-level discussions aimed at strengthening political and economic relations between the two countries.
During the visit, Nigeria and France explored expanded cooperation in a number of strategic sectors, including agriculture, energy, infrastructure, security, education, solid minerals, finance and investment.
The two governments have also expressed their intention to develop a mutually beneficial relationship that can support investment, economic growth and broader cooperation.
The renewed engagement with France comes in the context of Tinubu’s broader diplomatic push to reposition Nigeria as an attractive destination for international investment and strategic partnerships.
The President has consistently used foreign commitments to woo investors and promote his administration’s economic reforms, which have included major changes to fuel subsidy agreements, foreign exchange management and the broader investment environment.
While the reforms have generated significant economic adjustments and public debate in Nigeria, the administration has argued that they are intended to create a more sustainable economy, attract investment and lay the foundation for long-term growth.
France, meanwhile, remains an important partner for Nigeria, given the size of the Nigerian market, its strategic importance in West Africa and its role in continental affairs.
Relations between the two countries also extend to security and regional issues, with Nigeria playing a significant role in West African affairs while France maintains long-standing diplomatic and economic interests across the continent.
Tinubu’s latest engagement with Macron therefore comes as both countries seek to consolidate existing areas of cooperation while identifying new opportunities for economic and strategic partnership.
The President had departed Abuja on August 30 for his annual leave, first traveling to London before proceeding to Paris for the final leg of his vacation.
The private dinner with Macron was part of the president’s commitments in the French capital before the end of his European trip.
While details of the specific issues discussed at the private dinner were not made public, Tinubu’s account indicated that the talks focused on strengthening the broader relationship between Nigeria and France.
The meeting also offered both leaders the opportunity to reaffirm their personal diplomatic relations, which have figured prominently in renewed contacts between Abuja and Paris since Tinubu assumed office.
For Nigeria, stronger ties with France could offer opportunities for greater investment, technology transfer and partnerships in key sectors of the economy, particularly as the federal government seeks to reduce reliance on traditional sources of external financing.
The Tinubu administration also continued to engage European governments and businesses in efforts to mobilize capital for infrastructure and other development priorities.
Thursday’s dinner therefore represents more than a social engagement between two heads of government, which comes in the context of efforts supported by Abuja and Paris to deepen their bilateral relations.
