Private dinner at the Élysée: Macron hosts Tinubu

French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday, during the second leg of the Nigerian leader’s three-week annual leave in Europe, according PM News.

The meeting was disclosed on Friday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who described the dinner as reflecting “the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France” and both countries’ commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Photographs released from the occasion showed Tinubu and Macron together at the storied French presidential palace, with another image featuring Macron’s wife, Brigitte Macron, alongside the two presidents.

Tinubu departed Abuja on August 30 for a three-week European holiday, with London as his first destination. He subsequently arrived in Paris on September 13 for the second leg of his leave, where he was received by Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Ayodele Oke.

The private dinner with Macron took place while Tinubu was in France as part of his scheduled personal vacation, raising questions about the boundary between official diplomatic engagements and what the Presidency described as the President’s annual leave.

No details of what was discussed during the dinner were made public. The Presidency’s statement focused exclusively on the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and France without elaborating on any specific agreements, discussions or outcomes from the private meeting.

Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria after the completion of his European vacation.