Tinubu praises France‑Nigeria business council meeting, saying thepartnership is moving to the implementation phase.

President Bola Tinubu said Nigeria’s economic relationship with France has moved beyond discussion to implementation, following the outcomes of the 10th France‑Nigeria Business Council meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya.

The gathering took place under the umbrella of the Africa Forward Summit and assembled senior government officials together with leading private‑sector representatives from both nations.

A Presidency statement released on Tuesday noted that trade between Nigeria and France reached $4.7 billion in 2025, with Nigeria remaining the primary destination for French investment in sub‑Saharan Africa.

Tinubu observed that this development requires both countries to translate commitments into jobs, industrial growth, infrastructure projects and broader economic benefits.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, and France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Nicolas Forissier, also participated in the meeting alongside business leaders from the two countries.

Among the senior executives present were Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu, and other business figures such as Abdul Samad Rabiu, Wale Tinubu and Kola Karim, as well as international leaders including Patrick Pouyanné of TotalEnergies and Rodolphe Saadé of CMA CGM.

The President praised the Chairman of the France‑Nigeria Business Council, Aigboje Aig‑Imoukhuede, for convening what he described as a productive engagement between the private sectors of both nations.

He also highlighted the signing of a partnership between Accor and Shoreline Group to develop Nigeria’s first national hotel platform, calling it a strong vote of confidence in the country’s hospitality and tourism sector.

“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.

Tinubu added that his administration will continue to improve the business environment, deepen reforms and support credible investors.

He stated, “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 President said the next phase of Africa‑Europe relations will be defined by concrete projects in manufacturing, energy, agriculture, logistics, technology and job creation.