By Muhammad Mamman
Since assuming office in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu has turned France into a familiar destination, fuelling speculation and debate among Nigerians.
With at least eight trips to Paris since March 2023—seven of them as president—the question remains: what exactly keeps drawing Nigeria’s leader to France?
On Thursday, the Presidency announced that Tinubu would embark on a 10-day working vacation beginning September 4, 2025—yet another visit to the European nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Ties
France remains Nigeria’s biggest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, with bilateral trade surpassing $5 billion in 2023. Tinubu’s state visit in November 2024—the first by a Nigerian leader in 24 years—was aimed at wooing French investors in agriculture, energy and infrastructure.
Strategic Meetings
Beyond official state visits, Paris has often served as a discreet hub for high-level meetings. In April 2025, Tinubu reportedly used a “working visit” to review his administration’s mid-term performance and prepare policy shifts. He has also hosted business executives and financial leaders in the French capital, while holding several bilateral meetings with President Emmanuel Macron.
The Medical Speculation
Critics frequently allege that some of the trips mask medical appointments, particularly during “private visits” in January 2024, August 2024 and February 2025. The Presidency, however, has consistently denied such claims. In August, Presidential aide AbdulAziz AbdulAziz dismissed as false reports by the Nigerian Institute for Investigative Journalism suggesting the president was bedridden.
France’s African Strategy
Tinubu’s frequent presence in Paris also ties into France’s shifting Africa policy. With its traditional influence in West Africa challenged by China and Russia, Paris is eager to strengthen economic ties with Nigeria. French multinationals such as Danone and TotalEnergies already have significant investments in the country.
A Personal Affinity
Tinubu is also said to hold a personal fondness for France, which he visited long before becoming president. By April 2025, he had spent at least 59 days in France since taking office—far more than in any other country.
As Nigeria’s leader continues to criss-cross the globe, Paris remains his most favoured stopover. Whether for diplomacy, business, personal preference—or something more opaque—one question continues to resonate at home: what is really in France for Tinubu?
