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On his first state visit to France, President Bola Tinubu said on Thursday Nigeria is "open for business" with Paris which is looking to boost ties in English-speaking Africa following a series of setbacks with former allies on the continent.
The 72-year-old president met with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, during the first official state visit by a Nigerian leader in more than two decades.
Macron, 46, who has sought a "renewal" between Paris and Africa since his 2017 election, said his country will "continue to invest" in Nigeria, at a time when France's influence on the continent is waning following military coups and changing attitudes.
Challenges including insecurity and corruption have left 129 million Nigerians -- more than half the country's population -- living below the poverty line. For Tinubu, who has been battling soaring inflation and food prices, the visit represents an opportunity to tap economic investment.
"Nigeria is open for business," he said after his meeting with Macron, adding it should be taken "for a serious country and partner".
France suffered a blow when a series of coups from 2020 hit its former colonies in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, with new military rulers breaking ties with the ex-colonial ruler and veering towards Russia. The three Sahel countries are battling jihadist violence that erupted in northern Mali in 2012 and spread to Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015.
Nigeria was France's number-one trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa in 2023, followed by South Africa, according to the French customs authority. Tinubu said Nigeria needs France to help develop its "vibrant youth population, well-educated, and ready to be trained", with promises from Macron to invest in the cultural sector. "France wants to work alongside you," said Macron.
With at least 220 million inhabitants, Nigeria represents a promising market despite the challenges posed by insecurity and corruption.
Tinubu addressed investors' concerns, saying his government is "working to stabilise the security situation in Nigeria", but acknowledged the country still needs to do more.
Paris hopes to court others on the continent at the 2026 Africa-France Summit.
