Precious Nwonu, Enugu
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday hosted President Bola Tinubu to a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris as both countries seek to deepen bilateral relations.
The meeting was disclosed on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post on his verified X account.
Onanuga said the dinner reflected the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and France and the two countries’ interest in expanding cooperation.
“French President Emmanuel Macron received President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a private dinner Thursday night at the Élysée Palace, reflecting the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France and their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation,” he said.
The engagement comes during Tinubu’s second leg of his three-week annual leave in Europe. The President arrived in Paris on September 13 after spending the first part of his holiday in London.
Tinubu had departed Abuja on August 30 for the break, with the Presidency saying he would return to Nigeria at the end of the vacation to resume official duties and participate in preparations for the 2027 general election.
The dinner adds to a series of high-level engagements between Tinubu and Macron since the Nigerian President assumed office in May 2023.
Tinubu visited Paris in June 2023 to attend the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact, where he met with Macron.
The French government also hosted Tinubu for a state visit on November 28 and 29, 2024. During the visit, both countries signed declarations of intent covering economic cooperation, sustainable investment, critical minerals, banking, and the creative and cultural industries.
Nigeria and France have also expanded cooperation in areas including trade, investment, security, energy, innovation and culture.
France’s development agency, Agence Française de Développement, has invested more than €3 billion in Nigeria since 2010, according to the French government, with projects implemented across 26 states.
The latest meeting also comes ahead of an expected visit to Nigeria by Macron.
French Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Marc Fonbaustier, said in July that the French President was expected to visit Nigeria in the autumn.
According to the ambassador, the visit would provide an opportunity for both leaders to assess progress under the existing bilateral roadmap and identify additional areas of cooperation.
The Tinubu-Macron engagement therefore provides another opportunity for Nigeria and France to sustain discussions on their economic, diplomatic and strategic partnership.