President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing visit to France has brought him into a private engagement with French President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted the Nigerian leader to dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday night.
Tinubu is currently in France as part of his three-week annual leave in Europe, and the dinner provided an opportunity for the two leaders to reaffirm their countries’ commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Details of the discussions were not made public, although Tinubu said the meeting reaffirmed the friendship between Nigeria and France and their shared interest in deepening the partnership.
The meeting was disclosed on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, who said Macron received the Nigerian leader at the French presidential residence in Paris.
Tinubu also described the engagement as a reaffirmation of the strong relationship between the two countries, thanking Macron for his hospitality and friendship.
The dinner came during the second phase of Tinubu’s European vacation. The President departed Abuja on August 30 for a three-week leave, spending the first part of the break in London before travelling to Paris on September 13. He was received on arrival by Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Emmanuel Ayodele Oke.
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The Presidency had said Tinubu would return to Nigeria at the end of the vacation. His leave was announced as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election began to intensify.
Nigeria and France have maintained expanding political and economic relations in recent years. France’s foreign ministry says bilateral ties have developed significantly since 2014, particularly in economic and cultural areas, with Tinubu’s state visit to France in November 2024 giving the partnership a broader strategic dimension.
Economic relations have also grown in importance. According to the French government, trade between Nigeria and France was valued at €5.1 billion in 2023, making Nigeria France’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Nigerian presidency later reported that bilateral trade reached $4.7 billion in 2025, while describing Nigeria as the leading destination for French investment in sub-Saharan Africa.
The two countries have pursued cooperation across areas including investment, banking, infrastructure, critical minerals and the creative industries.
During Tinubu’s 2024 state visit, Nigeria and France signed several declarations of intent covering economic cooperation, sustainable and solidarity-focused investment, critical metals, banking and cultural and creative industries.
Thursday’s private dinner therefore adds to a series of high-level contacts between Abuja and Paris as both countries continue to develop their diplomatic and economic partnership.
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