By Erewunmi Peace

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron have pledged to strengthen Nigeria–France relations following a high-level meeting at the Élysée Palace in Paris.

The visit marked Nigeria’s first presidential state visit to France in over two decades. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation across key sectors including energy, food security, solid minerals, agriculture, education, defence, and the creative industries.

During the talks, Nigeria and France signed agreements worth over €300 million, targeting infrastructure, renewable energy, healthcare, human capital development, and agricultural value chains.

President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s readiness for foreign investment, stressing that his administration is repositioning the economy to attract impactful foreign direct investments.

“Nigeria is open for business, and we are ensuring that investing is easy in and easy out,” Tinubu said.

President Macron praised Tinubu’s leadership, describing him as a transformative figure, and expressed France’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties as a “partnership of progress.”

The meeting also featured engagements with the Nigeria–France Business Council, where opportunities for collaboration between French companies and Nigerian enterprises were explored.

This renewed partnership is expected to boost economic growth, security cooperation, and cultural exchange between the two nations.