BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has endorsed the outcomes of the 10th France-Nigeria Business Council Meeting held at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
This was even as he described the meeting as a clear signal that Nigeria and France are moving from dialogue to delivery.
While trade between both countries reached $4.7 billion in 2025, Nigeria remained the top destination for French investment in sub-Saharan Africa.
Tinubu said that the relationship carries real economic weight and must be translated into more jobs, industries, infrastructure, and shared prosperity.
The meeting, which was also attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, and France’s Minister Delegate, Nicolas Forissier, saw leading Nigerian and French businesses provide updates on key projects and commit to further expanding collaboration between both countries.
President Tinubu commended the current Chairman of the France-Nigeria Business Council, Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede for convening a productive session that brought together leading Nigerian and French private-sector players.
He acknowledged the participation of Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, Wale Tinubu, Kola Karim, Kashim Bukar, Patrick PouyannĂ© of TotalEnergies, Rodolphe SaadĂ© of CMA CGM, Danone, Accor, and other partners, whose presence reflected growing confidence in Nigeria’s reform direction and long-term competitiveness.
Tinubu particularly welcomed the signing between Accor and Shoreline Group for Nigeria’s first national hotel platform, describing it as a major vote of confidence in Nigeria’s hospitality, tourism, services and investment future.
"This is the partnership Nigeria is ready for. We are ready for investment that builds, capital that produces, and an enterprise that creates jobs. Nigeria and France are no longer simply exchanging goodwill. We are opening a new chapter of serious economic execution," he said.
President affirmed that his administration would continue to strengthen the business environment, support credible investors, and deepen reforms to make Nigeria a more stable, productive, and competitive economy.
"The message from the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi is that Nigeria is ready, France is engaged, and the private sector in both countries is moving forward. The next chapter of Africa-Europe relations will be written in factories, hotels, ports, energy projects, technology platforms, farms, jobs and new value chains," President Tinubu added.
This was contained in a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga in Abuja.
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