Tinubu, Macron Hold Private Dinner As Nigeria-France Relations Take Centre Stage

President Bola Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron have held a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris, bringing the Nigerian and French leaders together during Tinubu’s stay in France.

The meeting took place on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the French presidential palace and was disclosed on Friday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Photographs released from the gathering showed Tinubu alongside Macron and the French President’s wife, Brigitte Macron, during the private engagement.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the two leaders to interact outside the formal setting of official bilateral meetings as both countries continue to maintain diplomatic and economic ties.

Onanuga said the dinner reflected the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France and the shared commitment of both countries to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Tinubu has spent part of September in Europe as part of his annual leave. The President travelled between France and the United Kingdom during a 10-day working vacation that began on September 4.

France has remained one of Tinubu’s most frequent foreign destinations since he assumed office in May 2023. Previous engagements with Macron have included discussions on economic cooperation, investment, security and other areas of mutual interest.

The latest meeting with Macron comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to deepen international partnerships to support investment, economic growth and development.

The private dinner was not announced as a formal bilateral summit, and details of the specific issues discussed by the two leaders were not made public.

However, the Presidency’s description of the meeting as reflecting the relationship between Nigeria and France indicates that bilateral cooperation remained a central theme of the engagement.

The Élysée Palace meeting also adds to the series of contacts between Tinubu and Macron since the Nigerian President took office, with both leaders maintaining diplomatic engagements on issues affecting their two countries and wider international interests.

The photographs from the dinner have since provided a glimpse into the private engagement between the Nigerian and French presidents as Tinubu continues his stay in France.

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