The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu has been in France since Wednesday evening for a three-day state visit, the first by a Nigerian head of state in 24 years. Economy, culture, security are on the menu of this exceptional visit.
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The Élysée welcomes the arrival of the president “ from a large African country “. And emphasizes that the Franceshe too, “ account in Nigeria “. The state visit of Bola Tinubuthe first by a Nigerian president since that of Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000, is “ the opportunity to deepen the relationship, already very dynamic, between France and Nigeria », further indicates the French presidency.
There is of course the special link that Emmanuel Macron maintains with the African giant, where he stayed and worked for several months in the early 2000s. And it is in Nigeria that the French head of state carried out the one of his very first official visits to the African continent, in 2018. This trip made it possible to lay the foundations of a relationship that will always “ growing strongly on all levels » six years later.
Encourage French businesses
Bola Tinubu’s visit will have a strong economic tone, with this Thursday morning the meeting at the Élysée of a “Franco-Nigerian Business Council”, an organization which brings together around twenty companies from the two countries, in the presence of two heads of state. Bilateral trade between Nigeria and France is the most important in sub-Saharan Africa and French investments in Nigeria have doubled in ten years, to 10 billion euros, but still too little beyond the oil giant Total. In infrastructure in Nigeria, it is competitors, such as the Portuguese Mota-Engil, who are winning market share.
The Franco-Nigerian Business Council hopes that this visit will facilitate opportunities in the sectors of the future such as sustainable transport and green energy, since the end of fuel subsidies, but also the cultural and creative industries so vibrant in Nigeria , and of course agro-industry, beyond Danone’s new investments in dairy production.
“ Around forty years ago, all the major French companies were present in Nigeria, recalls Jean Hass, secretary general of the France-Nigeria Business Council. They withdrew from the country during the military crises of the late 1990s and their place was taken over by foreign, European or Asian companies. The goal is to restore the confidence of French companies to resettle in Nigeria and explain to them how, without excessive risk, we can do business in Nigeria. »
Jihadist threat
Because the African giant is also facing a very serious security crisis, which affects its entire territory. President Tinubu’s state visit should therefore also enable ” to deepen France’s support for the Nigerian security forces “. France notably provides support to the Nigerian navy and police in the Gulf of Guinea and it financially supports the Joint Multinational Force which brings together the four countries fighting against the jihadist threat around Lake Chad (Benin, Niger, Nigeria). and Cameroon). Nigeria must face, in the north of its territory, attacks from the jihadist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa (Iswap).
In Nigeria, the invitation from President Emmanuel Macron is seen as a “ honor » and as the promise of opportunities for the country. Partnerships established in the fields of agriculture, security or education could “significantly benefit Nigeria”, local observers rejoice.
Africa’s most populous country is going through an unprecedented economic crisis and Nigerian editorialists hope that this state visit is a sign that Bola Tinubu’s efforts are finally going ” bear fruit » and allow the return of foreign investors to their country. The needs are immense, particularly in terms of training and employment of young people, who represent nearly 70% of Nigeria’s 220 million inhabitants. According to a report published in October by the World Bank, some “ 129 million Nigerians » live below the poverty line.