By Ghazali Ibrahim
French President Emmanuel Macron will undertake a state visit to Nigeria, French Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Marc Fonbaustier, has announced.
Fonbaustier disclosed the planned visit on Tuesday during France’s National Day celebration in Abuja, describing it as a major step toward strengthening the strategic partnership between France and Nigeria.
According to the ambassador, Macron’s trip comes two years after President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Paris and will provide an opportunity for both leaders to review progress made under their bilateral cooperation roadmap and set new priorities for future collaboration.
“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,” Fonbaustier said.
He added that both presidents would outline an ambitious agenda designed to deliver mutual benefits for the people of both countries.
Fonbaustier said the France-Nigeria relationship is founded on equality, mutual respect and non-interference, noting that both nations work together as equal partners in advancing shared interests.
He highlighted ongoing cooperation in economic development, agriculture, food security, environmental protection and regional development through projects supported by the French Development Agency (AFD), particularly in northern Nigeria.
The envoy also reaffirmed the two countries’ commitment to strengthening security cooperation and combating terrorism across West Africa by supporting nations seeking to improve their security capabilities.
Fonbaustier further noted Macron’s personal connection to Nigeria, recalling that the French president spent six months in the country as a student more than two decades ago.
According to him, Macron has often acknowledged that his time in Nigeria played a significant role in shaping his vision for Africa and France’s engagement with the continent.
The French government is yet to announce the date for the state visit.
