Macron dinner reaffirmed strong Nigeria-France friendship – Tinubu
… Says both nations committed to deeper cooperation, mutually beneficial partnership
…Thanks French President for hospitality, friendship
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said his private dinner with French President, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris reaffirmed the strong friendship between Nigeria and France and their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries, The Nation Newspapers reported.
Tinubu, who is rounding off his working vacation in Europe, was hosted by Macron to the private dinner at the Élysée Palace on Thursday night.
Giving an update on the engagement on Friday morning through his verified X handle, @officialABAT, the President said his conversation with the French leader centred on the relationship 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 Palace Présidence de la République in Paris.
“Our conversation reaffirmed the strong friendship between Nigeria and France, as well as our shared commitment to deepening cooperation and building a mutually beneficial partnership between our two nations.
“I thank President Macron Emmanuel Macron for his warm hospitality and friendship”, Tinubu wrote.
The President’s account provided further insight into the Thursday night engagement, which had earlier been disclosed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Onanuga had announced the meeting on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, describing it as another reflection of the enduring relationship between Abuja and Paris.
“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”, Onanuga had said.
The dinner came in the closing days of Tinubu’s working vacation in Europe and represents another high-level engagement between the Nigerian and French leaders as both countries seek to expand cooperation across strategic sectors.
President Tinubu left Abuja on August 30 for his annual leave, with London as the first destination before proceeding to Paris for the concluding part of the vacation.
His latest engagement with Macron builds on a series of contacts between both leaders and growing efforts by Abuja and Paris to broaden their relationship beyond traditional diplomatic ties into trade, investment and other areas of economic cooperation.
Tinubu has made investment mobilisation a major plank of his engagements with France, repeatedly presenting Nigeria’s economic reforms and large domestic market as opportunities for French and other international investors.
The relationship received a major boost during Tinubu’s state visit to France in November 2024, when Macron hosted the Nigerian leader in Paris for high-level talks focused on strengthening political and economic relations.
The visit produced engagements covering areas including agriculture, energy, infrastructure, security, education, solid minerals, finance and investment, with both governments expressing their intention to develop a more mutually beneficial partnership.
Tinubu has since maintained high-level contacts with the French leadership and business community as his administration seeks foreign capital and partnerships to support its economic reform programme.
Thursday night’s private dinner, coming as the President concludes his European vacation, provided another opportunity for both leaders to review the relationship and reaffirm their commitment to expanding cooperation between Africa’s most populous country and France.
