French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday, September 17, 2026, as the two leaders continued diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and France.
The meeting was disclosed on Friday by presidential aides, who shared photographs from the private dinner involving Tinubu, Macron and France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron.
The dinner took place as Tinubu remains in France on a private visit and comes amid continued diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and France.
According to information released by the Nigerian Presidency, the meeting provided an opportunity for the two leaders to engage privately and maintain the relationship between both countries.
Tinubu Meets Macron in Paris
President Tinubu’s meeting with Macron took place at the Élysée Palace, the official residence and workplace of the French president in Paris.
Photographs from the dinner showed Tinubu with Macron and Brigitte Macron during the private gathering.
The meeting was disclosed publicly on Friday after the dinner had taken place the previous evening.
Presidential aide Dada Olusegun said Macron hosted Tinubu to a private dinner at the Élysée Palace.
Presidential adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also shared photographs of the two presidents and their wives from the meeting.
The engagement represents another high-level contact between the Nigerian and French presidents as both countries continue to maintain diplomatic relations covering economic, security, cultural and other areas.
Nigeria-France Relations
Nigeria and France have maintained diplomatic relations for decades, with cooperation between the two countries expanding significantly in recent years.
France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs says political relations between France and Nigeria have developed considerably since 2014.
The two countries have increased engagement in areas including trade, investment, security, education, culture and development cooperation.
France also describes Nigeria as an important partner in Africa because of the country’s demographic, economic, cultural and political significance.
Nigeria is France’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, according to French government information.
The relationship has included high-level visits by the leaders of both countries, as well as engagements involving government officials and private-sector representatives.
Tinubu’s Previous Engagements With Macron
Thursday’s private dinner was not the first meeting between Tinubu and Macron.
The Nigerian president previously met Macron during his official state visit to France in November 2024.
That visit included a state dinner hosted for Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu at the Élysée Palace.
Tinubu and Macron have also held other bilateral engagements, including a private working lunch in Paris in September 2025.
During their previous engagements, Nigeria-France relations and areas of bilateral cooperation have featured prominently.
The two countries have continued to explore opportunities for increased French investment in Nigeria while also cooperating on regional security and other international issues.
Macron and Tinubu Maintain Diplomatic Contact
The latest dinner demonstrates the continued contact between the Nigerian and French leaders.
Although details of Thursday’s private dinner were not publicly released, the engagement was confirmed through photographs and statements from Nigerian presidential aides.
No detailed official account of the discussions at the private dinner was provided in the initial disclosure.
As a private meeting, specific issues discussed by the two presidents have not been publicly outlined.
It is therefore not appropriate to attribute specific agreements or decisions to the dinner without official confirmation.
Economic Cooperation Between Nigeria and France
Economic relations remain an important component of the relationship between Nigeria and France.
French companies operate in several sectors of the Nigerian economy, while Nigerian businesses and institutions maintain commercial relationships with French counterparts.
According to French government data, bilateral trade between France and Nigeria was valued at €5.1 billion in 2023.
France has also identified Nigeria as an important destination for economic engagement in sub-Saharan Africa.
Investment, infrastructure, energy, financial services, telecommunications and other sectors have featured in discussions between Nigerian and French officials over the years.
The Tinubu administration has continued to seek foreign investment as part of its broader economic programme.
Security Cooperation
Security is another area of interest in Nigeria-France relations.
France has maintained diplomatic and security engagement with Nigeria and other countries in West Africa, particularly on issues involving terrorism and regional stability.
Nigeria continues to face security challenges from terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminal activity.
The two countries have previously discussed counterterrorism and regional security issues, particularly in relation to the wider Sahel region.
However, no specific security agreement resulting from Thursday’s private dinner has been announced.
Tinubu’s Stay in France
Tinubu’s meeting with Macron comes during the Nigerian president’s stay in France.
Earlier reports indicated that Tinubu was in Paris during a private period, although he has continued to maintain contact with Nigerian officials and other international stakeholders.
The Nigerian Presidency has previously clarified that the president’s foreign trips and private visits do not prevent the government from carrying out official activities.
Tinubu has made several visits to France since becoming president, including official and private engagements.
France has remained one of the countries with which Nigeria has maintained frequent high-level diplomatic contact.
Macron Hosts Tinubu Privately
Unlike a formal state visit or an official bilateral summit, Thursday’s engagement was described as a private dinner.
The absence of a formal communiqué means that details of the discussion between the two presidents remain limited.
The photographs released after the meeting nevertheless confirmed that Tinubu and Macron met at the Élysée Palace.
The presence of Brigitte Macron alongside the two presidents also indicated the personal and informal nature of the dinner.
Such private engagements can form part of broader diplomatic relations, although specific outcomes cannot be established unless subsequently announced by the governments involved.
Continued Nigeria-France Partnership
The latest meeting comes as Nigeria continues to deepen its engagement with France and other international partners.
Nigeria has sought greater foreign investment and stronger international partnerships as the government implements economic reforms and pursues increased investment across various sectors.
France, meanwhile, has identified Nigeria as an important economic and political partner in Africa.
The relationship has expanded beyond government-to-government contacts to include private-sector cooperation, educational exchanges, cultural initiatives and development programmes.
French institutions maintain a significant presence in Nigeria, while Nigeria remains an important market for French businesses.
What the Private Dinner Means
The private dinner does not, on its own, represent the signing of a new agreement between Nigeria and France.
No new bilateral agreement was announced in the initial reports about the meeting.
Instead, the dinner provides another opportunity for the leaders of both countries to maintain direct communication and strengthen their longstanding diplomatic relationship.
Any agreements, policy decisions or new initiatives arising from the engagement would require separate confirmation from the Nigerian or French governments.
For now, the confirmed details are that Macron hosted Tinubu to a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday night, with photographs from the gathering released publicly on Friday.
The meeting adds to a series of high-level engagements between Tinubu and Macron and highlights the continued diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and France.
As both countries continue cooperation in economic, security, cultural and diplomatic areas, further official announcements may provide additional details about issues discussed during the leaders’ latest engagement.
