By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Tinubu Hails Outcome of Meeting With Macron in Paris
President Bola Tinubu has commended the outcome of his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, describing the discussions as constructive and focused on areas of mutual interest between Nigeria and France.
The two leaders met over a private working lunch on Wednesday at the Élysée Palace in Paris. According to Tinubu, the conversation centred on strengthening bilateral cooperation, with an emphasis on economic partnership, regional security, and global stability.
“Had a productive lunch with President Emmanuel Macron today at the Élysée Palace. We reviewed key areas of cooperation between Nigeria and France and agreed to deepen our partnership for mutual prosperity and global stability,” Tinubu posted on his official X account shortly after the meeting.
The visit comes as part of Tinubu’s 10-day working vacation, which began on September 4. The Presidency had earlier announced that the President would split his annual leave between France and the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria.
His Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that the vacation was part of Tinubu’s schedule following recent international engagements.
Prior to this trip, Tinubu embarked on a two-week foreign mission covering Japan and Brazil. He attended the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, where he held bilateral talks with Japanese officials and engaged with business leaders exploring investment opportunities in Nigeria.
After Japan, Tinubu continued to Brazil for a state visit at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. His discussions in Brasilia also included trade, investment, and cooperation between both countries.
This week’s lunch with Macron marks Tinubu’s second visit to France in six months. In April, he had undertaken a short working trip to Paris, which the Presidency said was used to assess his administration’s mid-term performance and review policy milestones. At that time, officials dismissed widespread rumours on social media that the trip was for medical purposes.
Tinubu’s frequent international engagements underscore his administration’s efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s global ties and attract investment.
The Presidency maintains that these meetings are essential to positioning Nigeria as a stronger player on the international stage.
