During a visit to Paris on November 28, President Bola Tinubu met with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Nigeria and France. The meeting, held at the historic Palais des L’Élysée, focused on several important areas, including food security, energy, education, solid minerals, and defense.
In a joint press conference following the talks, President Tinubu expressed Nigeria’s commitment to working closely with France to improve these critical sectors. He emphasized that increasing investment in food security and energy, in particular, would help address global challenges and support long-term development.
Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, highlighted the key points discussed during the meeting. He shared that Tinubu had urged France to consider deeper investment in Nigeria, particularly in the areas of food security, solid minerals, and education.
The two leaders also discussed opportunities to enhance collaboration in defense, an area vital to ensuring the safety and stability of both countries.
This meeting between the two Presidents marks an important step toward strengthening the ties between Nigeria and France, with both nations focused on fostering growth and shared prosperity in the years ahead.
He said;
“The French-Nigeria Business Forum is doing a lot already, but we need to do more on food security. We cannot help but invest in each another’s country.”
He underlined how Nigeria’s thriving financial sector may attract foreign investment, especially from French businesses, in the effort to increase food security.
“Nigeria’s financial sector is evolving and flourishing. We are also creating grounds for investment in Nigeria’s economy for French nationals, especially in the area of food security.
“It is our responsibility to put together a food security programme for the private sector to come and invest in the country.
“We are working on stability, and we are getting closer and closer, but we can do better and better,” he stated.
President Tinubu assured that Nigeria’s economy was being repositioned for more Foreign Direct Investment that will directly impact the livelihoods of the citizens.
“I can assure you that Nigeria is open for business, and close to this, we have a vibrant youth population that is educated and ready to be trained in various areas of entrepreneurship and development,” he said.
The President implored the French government to extend to Nigeria training programmes that will develop the youthful population.
“Furthermore, we should de-risk the opportunities in the solid minerals. We have the potential, and we have agreed on a deeper and deeper relationship,” the President added.
President Tinubu noted that Nigeria, like most African nations, had been preoccupied with tackling issues of food security.
“A starved nation will not care about weather or environment, and in the 21st century, no child should go to bed hungry,” he told the French President and his delegation.
“If an African child is given a glass of milk in a class, there will be no problem in getting him to return and stay in school to learn. The more educated the children are, the better it is for us,” President Tinubu said.
On security, Tinubu noted that there was a need for collective responsibility to fight terrorism.
“Nigeria is a partner in progress. We are ready to partner with France so that we can have security operations that will stop the challenge of migration,” he noted.
The President said the blue economy in Nigeria also provides a huge opportunity for investment, with unexplored potential in fisheries.
“In Lagos, we have tamed the Atlantic Ocean. For us, fisheries are an important aspect of investment.
“We want to assure the French investment community that Nigeria is open for business. It shall be easy in, and easy out,” the President noted.
President Macron acknowledged President Tinubu’s state visit as a milestone heralding deeper bilateral relationships, particularly emphasizing collaborative growth in creative industries and youth-focused initiatives.
He noted that the global humanitarian challenges could only be solved with governments working together.
“We have confidence that you, Mr President, will reinforce our relationship with Nigeria, and it will cover the West Coast region, with ECOWAS playing the leading role.
“I will seek your leadership to work as partners of progress. You are the great leader of the great country in Africa.
“We appreciate your visionary leadership and energy in transforming the economy of your country. We will work together for collective, global success,” he said.
President Macron had earlier assured that he would encourage more investments in the solid minerals sector, with the signing of an agreement during a political meeting where the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, made a presentation on the potential.
