French President, Emmanuel Macron hosted Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday night. The meeting took place while Tinubu is on the second leg of his three-week annual leave in Europe.

The dinner was confirmed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. He described the engagement as a reflection of the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France and their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Tinubu arrived in Paris after first spending part of his holiday in London. He left Abuja at the end of August and is expected to return to Nigeria at the end of the break to resume official duties and prepare for the 2027 general elections.

The private dinner adds to a series of high-level contacts between the two leaders since Tinubu assumed office. France and Nigeria have maintained cooperation in areas such as economic partnerships, investments, critical minerals and cultural exchanges.

Photographs from the evening, shared publicly, show the two presidents together at the Élysée Palace. The meeting underscores ongoing diplomatic engagement between Abuja and Paris as both countries seek to deepen their partnership.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper