French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a state visit to Nigeria this fall, the French Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Marc Fonbaustier, has announced.
The ambassador made the disclosure while delivering his address at the celebration of France’s National Day on Tuesday night in Abuja, describing the upcoming trip as a significant opportunity to review and strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership.
Fonbaustier called the announcement a “scoop,” noting that Macron’s visit would come two years after President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Paris.
“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,” he said.
The envoy emphasized that the Nigeria-France relationship is built on equality, mutual respect, and partnership without interference or prejudice.
He highlighted shared values of liberty, equality, and fraternity, while underscoring joint commitments to economic development, job creation, environmental protection, democracy, and the rule of law.
Fonbaustier pointed to several recent commercial partnerships as evidence of deepening economic cooperation, including collaborations between Carrefour and HyperCity, Accor and Shoreline, as well as Canal+’s acquisition of MultiChoice, which he said would enrich television programming in Nigeria.
He also commended Nigerian businessman Abdul Samad Rabiu’s initiative to establish a House of African Worlds in Paris.
On security, the ambassador noted both countries’ commitment to fighting terrorism and supporting regional stability.
He added that France, through the French Development Agency (AFD), is collaborating with Nigeria on agricultural projects to boost food security and value chains, particularly in northern Nigeria and across the ECOWAS region.
Personal ConnectionFonbaustier revealed that Macron’s vision for Africa was partly shaped by his six-month stay in Nigeria as a student 24 years ago.
“The new relationship between Africa and France was, in some way, born in Nigeria or ‘Made in Nigeria’,” he said.
The anticipated visit is expected to further consolidate ties between the two nations across multiple sectors, including security, agriculture, trade, and cultural exchange. Details of the exact dates are yet to be released.
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