President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, where the two leaders held a private dinner focused on the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and France.
The meeting took place on Thursday, September 17, 2026, and was disclosed on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Onanuga shared photographs from the dinner on his official social media account, showing Tinubu and Macron together at the French presidential palace.
According to the presidential aide, the engagement reflected the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France and the commitment of both countries to strengthening bilateral cooperation. The meeting comes as Nigeria continues to deepen its diplomatic and economic engagement with France, one of its key European partners.
While details of the private discussion were not made public, Nigeria and France have maintained cooperation across areas including investment, trade, security, education, culture and other sectors of mutual interest. France’s official diplomatic record notes that relations between the two countries have increasingly focused on economic partnerships, investment and cultural cooperation.
A French-Nigerian dialogue forum has also been used to advance discussions between both governments, the latest encounter adds to a series of meetings between Tinubu and Macron since the Nigerian president assumed office.
The two leaders have previously held discussions in Paris on matters concerning Nigeria-France relations, reflecting continued high-level diplomatic contact between Abuja and Paris.
Tinubu is currently in Europe as part of a private working vacation, according to reports. The President's engagement with Macron therefore provides another opportunity for the two countries to maintain dialogue at the highest level.
The private nature of Thursday's dinner means that specific agreements or policy decisions from the meeting have not been publicly announced.
However, the Presidency's description of the engagement points to the broader objective of maintaining and expanding cooperation between Nigeria and France.
For Nigeria, stronger relations with France could support continued engagement in areas such as investment, technology, infrastructure, security and cultural exchange.
The meeting also comes against the backdrop of growing international interest in Nigeria's economic potential and its role in West Africa.
As both countries continue their diplomatic engagement, attention will now turn to whether the latest high-level meeting will lead to new agreements, investments or joint initiatives in the months ahead.