FIJ
President Bola Tinubu, alongside his wife Oluremi, left for France on Wednesday for a three-day visit. This makes it his fourth trip to the European country in 2024 alone.
Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, said the trip was a state visit in honour of an invitation from Emmanuel Macron, President of France.
While Tinubu has visited France four times in one year, the last time Macron travelled to Nigeria was in July 2018.
Tinubu’s first visit to France was on January 24 when he travelled to Paris for a private visit and returned to Nigeria in the first week of February.
He travelled to France again on August 19 for what was described as “a brief work stay”.
When Tinubu went to the United Kingdom in October for a two-week vacation, which was part of his annual leave, he visited France. The president’s aides stated that he would attend an important engagement there.
Macron’s two-day visit to Nigeria six years ago was not his first visit, but that was his first presidential trip. He has not returned since then.
Muhammadu Buhari was Nigeria’s president when Macron visited in 2018. The duo had a closed-door meeting at the State House in Abuja, where they discussed security and economic issues.
“Our two countries also signed a number of agreements. France is vital to Nigeria. We will continue to work with France for the benefit of both countries, in security, the fight against corruption, the economy, and in tackling the effects of climate change,” Buhari stated on his social media pages.
Pleased to welcome President @EmmanuelMacron to the State House today. Our discussions focused on security, especially regarding G5S and stabilizing the Sahel; economic issues; and the Inter Basin Water Transfer for Lake Chad. Our two countries also signed a number of Agreements. pic.twitter.com/dNesHfozBp
Geoffrey Onyeama, who was the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time, said Macron’s visit would support improved ties and trade relations between Nigeria and France.
The French president also travelled to Lagos State to participate in events and discussions on culture. While in Lagos, he visited the New Afrika Shrine, a concert venue owned by the family of Afrobeat icon Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
The concert venue was considered an unusual choice for a visiting president given its anti-establishment roots, but Macron would later note the cultural significance of his visit when he announced that the French government was launching an African culture season in France in 2020.
“We decided to organise in France for 2020, a series of events about African culture but the new thing is that it will be for Africa, for African artists, by African artists, and with African leaders, business communities in France and African people,” Macron said.
While in Lagos, the French leader inaugurated the new Alliance Française in Ikoyi, a non-profit cultural centre approved to train and educate Nigerians in culture and French.
Also, one of his stops was the Lycée Français Louis Pasteur, a primary and secondary French school located in Victoria Island.
Through checks on Facebook and X, FIJ found that the frequency of Tinubu’s trips to France was not lost on Nigerian social media users, with many wondering when the French president would return the visit.
Just as Cynthia Cy Peter, a Facebook user, wondered when Macron would visit Nigeria via her comment: “We are waiting for the day the French president will visit Nigeria. Beggar or leader?”
X users are asking similar questions.
“France again? It’s like the Nigerian government’s position is for one to tour as many countries as possible. Fixing the challenges facing Nigeria isn’t bothering this administration,” @IkechiBene65006 wrote on X.
X users like @saytalksay wrote: “I wonder what France has on him”, @Akin_Malaolu said, “He has a home there. He has been going to France more than Bourdillon. Call this visit a ‘Vacation’ and nothing more.” @ubongutioh asked: “So, Macron cannot come to Nigeria?”
