The agreement was formally signed by Dr. 'Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, and the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs at an earlier event at Tafawa Balewa House, the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
President Tinubu commended the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and France, highlighting that this progress was a result of his visit to Paris after his inauguration. He expressed his gratitude for the return of the Abacha loot, emphasizing that the funds would be wisely utilized to achieve Nigeria's development goals. President Tinubu also welcomed the growing cooperation between the two countries in various areas of mutual interest, including climate change, economic integration, education, and culture.
Regarding the situation in Niger Republic, President Tinubu, who serves as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, mentioned that Nigeria was closely monitoring the situation in the neighboring country and exploring diplomatic channels to prevent bloodshed. He stressed the importance of managing the situation carefully, given the shared border between Nigeria and Niger and the potential risks to President Bazoum and his family.
President Tinubu affirmed his commitment to finding a peaceful resolution to the Niger Republic situation through international cooperation. The French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs conveyed President Emmanuel Macron's goodwill and extended an invitation to President Bola Tinubu to attend the forthcoming Paris Peace Forum.
Regarding the Abacha loot, the French Presidential Envoy explained that the repatriation had followed a lengthy legal process but was ultimately successful. She commended President Tinubu's leadership within ECOWAS and expressed France's support for maintaining constitutional order and democracy in all countries.
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