President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to leave Abuja on Wednesday for Paris, France, on a private visit, according to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, his special adviser on information and strategy.
During his visit, Tinubu is expected to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron before proceeding to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“In Addis Ababa, President Tinubu will join African leaders at the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of State, scheduled from February 12 to 16, 2025,” the statement noted.
The president is expected to arrive in Addis Ababa early next week.
Tinubu’s trip comes months after his previous visit to France in November 2024, which sparked debates about France’s strategic interests in Nigeria. Following that visit, speculations arose about the possible establishment of a French military base in Nigeria’s northeast, an allegation the federal government denied.
Additionally, Niger Republic’s military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, accused France of negotiating with terrorists in Nigeria to destabilize his country—claims that were also dismissed by Nigerian authorities.
Amid these tensions, Macron criticized Sahelian leaders for what he described as a lack of gratitude toward France’s counterterrorism efforts in the region.
