French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit Nigeria later this month as part of efforts to strengthen political, economic and strategic relations between the two countries.
According to TheCable, Macron is expected to arrive in Nigeria on October 28 for a two-day state visit scheduled to end on October 29, although the itinerary may still be adjusted.
The planned visit will be a reciprocal engagement following President Bola Tinubu’s three-day state visit to France in November 2024.
During Tinubu’s visit, the two leaders discussed key areas of bilateral cooperation, including finance, energy transition, solid minerals, trade, investment and communications.
Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, had described Tinubu’s visit as an opportunity to strengthen political, economic and cultural relations while creating new avenues for partnership between both countries.
Preparations for Macron’s expected visit are reportedly underway, with French officials already engaging their Nigerian counterparts to finalise arrangements for the state visit.
The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for Nigeria and France to assess progress on agreements and areas of cooperation reached during previous high-level engagements.
French Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Marc Fonbaustier, had announced in July that Macron would visit Nigeria, saying the trip would underscore the growing strategic partnership between both countries.
“Together, our two presidents will assess the progress of our roadmap and outline the key elements of our relationship for the years to come. These will undoubtedly be ambitious and mutually beneficial for our two peoples,” Fonbaustier said.
The ambassador described Nigeria as an important component of France’s evolving relationship with Africa, while recalling Macron’s personal connection with the country.
According to him, the “new relationship between Africa and France was, in some way, born in Nigeria or ‘Made in Nigeria’,” noting that Macron spent six significant and formative months in the country as a young student about 24 years ago.
Macron last visited Nigeria as French president in July 2018, when he met former President Muhammadu Buhari and visited the New Afrika Shrine in Lagos.
His forthcoming visit is expected to further deepen cooperation between Nigeria and France, particularly in trade, investment, energy, security and other strategic sectors.
Macron is currently serving his second and final term as French president, which is scheduled to end in May 2027.
His planned visit therefore comes at a significant period in the bilateral relationship, as both countries seek to expand cooperation and strengthen their strategic partnership.
