President Bola Tinubu on Thursday reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening cooperation in vital sectors such as food security, energy, solid minerals, education, and defence during a high-profile meeting with France President Emmanuel Macron at the Palais des L’Élysée in France.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Tinubu emphasized the largely untapped potential within Nigeria’s agricultural sector and encouraged international investors to explore the country’s welcoming investment climate.
President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, highlighted the key points from the meeting in a statement titled ‘Paris: President Tinubu urges more investments in food security, solid minerals, energy, and education’.
“The French-Nigeria Business Forum is doing a lot already, but we need to do more on food security. We cannot help but invest in each other’s countries,” Onanuga quoted the President.
Tinubu further stressed Nigeria’s growing financial sector as a critical enabler for foreign investment, particularly from French businesses, as part of efforts to enhance food security.
“Nigeria’s financial sector is evolving and flourishing. We are also creating grounds for investment in Nigeria’s economy for French nationals, especially in the area of food security. It is our responsibility to put together a food security programme for the private sector to come and invest in the country,” the President stated. “We are working on stability and we are getting closer and closer, but we can do better and better.”
He emphasized that Nigeria’s economy is being restructured to attract more Foreign Direct Investment , which would directly benefit its citizens.
“I can assure you that Nigeria is open for business, and close to this, we have a vibrant youth population that is educated and ready to be trained in various areas of entrepreneurship and development,” Tinubu said.
The President also called on the French government to support the development of Nigeria’s youthful population through training initiatives.
“Furthermore, we should de-risk the opportunities in the solid minerals. We have the potential and we have agreed on a deeper and deeper relationship,” Tinubu added.
Addressing food security, Tinubu noted that Africa, including Nigeria, has been preoccupied with tackling hunger.
“A starved nation will not care about weather or environment, and in the 21st Century no child should go to bed hungry,” he said to Macron and his delegation.
“If an African child is given a glass of milk in a class, there will be no problem in getting him to return and stay in school to learn. The more educated the children are, the better it is for us,” Tinubu stressed.
On security, the President underscored the need for collective responsibility to combat terrorism.
“Nigeria is a partner in progress. We are ready to partner with France so that we can have security operations that will stop the challenge of migration,” he stated.
The blue economy, particularly in fisheries, was another area Tinubu highlighted as ripe for investment, with vast potential yet to be tapped.
“In Lagos, we have tamed the Atlantic Ocean. For us, fishery is an important aspect of investment. We want to assure the French investment community that Nigeria is open for business. It shall be easy in, and easy out,” Tinubu remarked.
President Macron recognized the significance of Tinubu’s state visit as a landmark moment in strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in creative industries and youth-oriented projects.
He also emphasized the importance of global cooperation in addressing humanitarian challenges.
“We have confidence that you, Mr President, will reinforce our relationship with Nigeria, and it will cover the West Coast region, with ECOWAS playing the leading role. I will seek your leadership to work as partners of progress. You are the great leader of the great country in Africa,” Macron said. “We appreciate your visionary leadership and energy in transforming the economy of your country. We will work together for collective, global success.”
During the meeting, Macron assured Tinubu of France’s commitment to fostering investments in the solid minerals sector, with an agreement signed after a political meeting where Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, showcased the sector’s potential.
Earlier, Tinubu and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, were formally welcomed by President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, with full honours at Hotel Les Invalides and the Palais De l’Élysée.
