Tinubu, Macron Hold Private Dinner in Paris, Reaffirm Nigeria-France Ties

Tinubu, Macron Hold Private Dinner in Paris, Reaffirm Nigeria-France Ties

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has held a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, with both leaders reaffirming the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and France and their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The meeting took place on Thursday, September 17, 2026, during Tinubu’s ongoing three-week annual leave in Europe.

The Presidency disclosed the engagement on Friday, saying Macron received Tinubu at the Élysée Palace for the private dinner as the two countries continued efforts to deepen their diplomatic and economic relationship.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the engagement reflected the enduring ties between Nigeria and France and the shared commitment of both countries to expanding cooperation.

Tinubu also confirmed the meeting in a message shared on his official social media platform, describing the dinner with Macron as a pleasure.

The Nigerian President said his conversation with the French leader reaffirmed the strong friendship between Nigeria and France, as well as their determination to deepen cooperation and build a mutually beneficial partnership.

Photographs released from the meeting showed Tinubu and Macron at the French presidential palace, while another image featured Tinubu alongside Macron and France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron.

The Presidency did not disclose the specific issues discussed during the private dinner or announce any new agreement arising directly from the meeting.

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The engagement nevertheless comes against the backdrop of expanding Nigeria-France relations, with both countries maintaining cooperation in areas including trade, investment, energy, security, education, infrastructure, innovation, culture and the creative economy.

The latest meeting also adds to a series of high-level engagements between Tinubu and Macron since the Nigerian President assumed office in 2023.

In September 2025, Tinubu met Macron at the Élysée Palace for a private working lunch. Following that engagement, Tinubu said the discussions had covered key areas of cooperation and reflected the desire of both countries to deepen their partnership.

The relationship received another major boost during Tinubu’s state visit to France in November 2024, when the two countries expanded discussions around economic cooperation, investment, energy transition, defence, education, culture and innovation.

The 2024 visit was particularly significant because it was described by the French Presidency as the first state visit by a Nigerian president to France since 2000.

During the visit, Tinubu and Macron also witnessed efforts to strengthen private-sector links between the two countries, including engagements involving the Franco-Nigerian Business Council and representatives of businesses and economic institutions.

The two governments have continued to pursue stronger economic relations, particularly around French investment in Nigeria and opportunities for Nigerian businesses to access the French and wider European markets.

Security cooperation has also remained part of the broader Nigeria-France relationship, with France maintaining engagement with Nigeria on regional security and counter-terrorism issues.

The latest meeting, however, was not accompanied by a detailed communiqué setting out specific decisions or agreements.

Tinubu’s meeting with Macron came shortly after the Nigerian President arrived in France for the second phase of his European vacation.

He had earlier spent part of his annual leave in London before travelling to Paris. The Presidency had described the three-week absence as an annual leave and working vacation, with Tinubu expected to return to Nigeria after completing the trip.

The private dinner therefore provided another opportunity for the Nigerian and French leaders to maintain direct contact at the highest level, while publicly reaffirming the importance of the Nigeria-France partnership.

The meeting also underscores the continuing diplomatic engagement between Abuja and Paris as both countries seek to expand cooperation across economic, political, security and cultural areas.

For now, details of any specific outcomes from the private dinner remain undisclosed, with the Presidency’s public account centred on the friendship between the two countries and their shared commitment to stronger bilateral relations.

Tinubu, Macron Hold Private Dinner in Paris, Reaffirm Nigeria-France Ties