French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a State visit to Nigeria later this year, marking another milestone in efforts to deepen ties between the two countries.

According to Punch Newspapers, the announcement was made on Tuesday night in Abuja by the French Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Marc Fonbaustier, during France’s National Day celebration.

Fonbaustier described the upcoming trip as an opportunity for President Macron and President Bola Tinubu to review progress made since Tinubu’s State visit to Paris two years ago and agree on priorities for future cooperation.

He said the two leaders would assess the implementation of their bilateral roadmap and outline ambitious plans aimed at strengthening relations for the benefit of both nations.

The ambassador stressed that France’s relationship with Nigeria is built on equality, saying both countries respect each other as partners and are committed to working together without interference or prejudice.

He highlighted shared priorities including economic growth, job creation, environmental protection and improved living standards. Fonbaustier also pointed to recent commercial partnerships involving Carrefour and HyperCity, Accor and Shoreline, as well as Canal+’s acquisition of MultiChoice, describing them as signs of expanding economic cooperation.

On governance, the envoy said Nigeria and France remained committed to democracy, the rule of law, freedom of expression and equal opportunities. He added that the French Embassy continues to support programmes that empower women, young people and persons with disabilities.

Fonbaustier also outlined ongoing cooperation in agriculture through the French Development Agency, with projects focused on food security and agricultural value chains in northern Nigeria and across the ECOWAS region.

On security, he said both countries share a commitment to combating terrorism and are working together to strengthen the capacity of countries across the region to address security threats.

The ambassador further revealed that Macron’s interest in Africa was partly shaped by the six months he spent in Nigeria as a student 24 years ago, saying the experience influenced his vision for Africa and French diplomacy on the continent.