On Thursday, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and France’s President Emmanuel Macron signed two significant agreements in Paris aimed at enhancing agriculture, food security, and infrastructure development. These agreements, signed during an economic forum at the Palais des Élysée, are part of President Tinubu’s state visit to France.

The event also saw important business milestones, such as the United Bank for Africa (UBA) expanding into Paris and Zenith Bank launching its operations in France. These moves reflect growing business cooperation between the two countries.

A key part of the agreements is a €300 million financial and technical assistance package aimed at supporting critical sectors in Nigeria, including healthcare, transportation, renewable energy, and agriculture. The funds will be distributed across Nigeria’s regions to help foster long-term development. Both countries also pledged to work together to remove fiscal barriers and protect labor rights, ensuring smooth project implementation.

In addition, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, and Mr. Antoine Armand, French Minister for the Economy, Finance, and Industry, signed a Letter of Intent focusing on investment in sectors like food security, energy, and healthcare. The French Development Agency (AFD) also committed to supporting sustainable development projects in Nigeria, with a focus on agriculture, MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), and energy access.

President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to furthering cooperation with France, especially in areas like food security, education, and energy. This partnership is seen as a significant step toward achieving long-term growth and stability in both countries.