PARIS, France — President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria met with French President Emmanuel Macron for a private working lunch at the Élysée Palace on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, as part of his ongoing 10-day working vacation in Europe.
The engagement, held in the French capital, comes during a period of rest and consultations for Tinubu, who departed Abuja last week for France and the United Kingdom to observe his annual leave.
In a message shared on X, the Nigerian leader described the lunch as fruitful and focused on strengthening cooperation between the two nations.
“Had a productive lunch with President Emmanuel Macron @EmmanuelMacron today at the Élysée Palace,” Tinubu wrote.
“We reviewed key areas of cooperation between Nigeria and France and agreed to deepen our partnership for mutual prosperity and global stability.”
Paris has long sought to consolidate its influence in West Africa at a time of shifting alliances and increasing competition from other global powers.
For Nigeria, the meeting represents another opportunity to secure international partnerships that can bolster its economic reforms and improve regional stability, especially as the country faces domestic challenges ranging from inflation to insecurity.
Neither the French presidency nor the Nigerian government released additional details about the discussions.
While no formal agreements were announced, the symbolism of the encounter reflects Nigeria’s importance as a strategic partner for France in Africa and beyond.
Tinubu is expected to continue his stay in Europe before returning to Abuja, where pressing economic and political issues await his attention.
See photos from the meeting below:
