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French President Emmanuel Macron will undertake a state visit to Nigeria later this year in a move aimed at deepening diplomatic, economic and security cooperation between both countries, French Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Marc Fonbaustier, has announced.
The ambassador disclosed this on Tuesday during the celebration of France’s National Day in Abuja, describing the visit as a major milestone in the growing relationship between Nigeria and France. He said the trip, expected to take place in the autumn, would come two years after President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Paris.
Fonbaustier said the meeting between both leaders would provide an opportunity to assess the progress made under the existing bilateral roadmap and define new areas of collaboration that would deliver mutual benefits for citizens of both nations.
“I am pleased and honoured to announce that, two years after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Paris, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, will travel to Nigeria for another state visit this fall,” the ambassador said.
“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.”
The French envoy said the partnership between Nigeria and France was built on mutual respect and equality, stressing that both countries engaged each other as partners rather than through interference or imposition. According to him, both governments remain committed to open dialogue, joint decision-making and pursuing shared interests.
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He noted that Nigeria and France were working together to promote economic growth, create jobs and improve living standards while protecting the environment, biodiversity and natural resources. He pointed to recent commercial partnerships involving Carrefour and HyperCity, Accor and Shoreline, as well as Canal+’s acquisition of MultiChoice, saying they reflected expanding economic ties between both countries.
Fonbaustier also praised the initiative spearheaded by Nigerian businessman Abdul Samad Rabiu to establish a House of African Worlds in Paris, describing it as another symbol of strengthening cultural and economic relations between France and Africa.
On governance, the ambassador said both countries remained committed to democracy, the rule of law, freedom of expression and equal opportunities, adding that the French Embassy continued to support programmes focused on empowering women, young people and persons with disabilities.
He also highlighted ongoing cooperation in agriculture through the French Development Agency, particularly projects aimed at strengthening food security and improving agricultural value chains across northern Nigeria and the ECOWAS region.
Speaking on security, Fonbaustier said Nigeria and France continued to work closely in tackling terrorism and strengthening regional stability, noting that both countries were supporting efforts to improve the capacity of nations confronting extremist threats across West Africa.
The ambassador further revealed that Macron’s interest in Africa was shaped by his six-month stay in Nigeria as a student more than two decades ago, saying the experience significantly influenced the French President’s vision for Africa and his approach to diplomacy on the continent.
