TINUBU HOLDS PRIVATE DINNER WITH MACRON AT ÉLYSéE PALACE

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday met with French President Emmanuel Macron for a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris, France, as part of his ongoing stay in the country. The meeting was disclosed on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who shared photographs from the dinner on his official X account.

The private engagement brought Tinubu together with Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, at the French presidential residence. Photographs released from the meeting showed the Nigerian President alongside Macron during the dinner, as well as Tinubu with the French President and his wife at the Élysée Palace.

Onanuga said the meeting reflected the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and France and the shared commitment of both countries to strengthening bilateral cooperation. However, the statement on the dinner did not provide specific details of the issues discussed by the two leaders during the private engagement.

Tinubu arrived in Paris on Sunday, September 13, for the second leg of his three-week annual leave in Europe, after spending the first part of his vacation in London. He was received on arrival by Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Ayodele Oke, as he continued the European portion of his holiday.

France has remained one of Tinubu’s most frequent foreign destinations since he became President in May 2023. During his time in office, he has made several official, working and private visits to Paris, including previous engagements with Macron at the Élysée Palace. The latest dinner further brought the two leaders together in the French capital as Nigeria and France continue their diplomatic relationship.