French President Emmanuel Macron has postponed his state visit to Nigeria, which was originally scheduled for October 28 and 29.
A French presidential source told TheCable on Friday that Macron deferred the trip due to widespread protests and civil unrest across France.
Citizens throughout France have recently staged demonstrations to protest rising living costs, declining public services, and educational conditions. On October 17, these protests escalated into violence in several locations, where rioters looted stores and set buildings ablaze.
French authorities are preparing for another wave of demonstrations on Saturday.
A Nigerian official familiar with the matter confirmed to TheCable that domestic unrest in France primarily prompted the postponement of Macron’s scheduled trip.
“A president will not travel when his home is contending with internal combustion,” the official said.
Nigeria and France continue to maintain cordial diplomatic ties, collaborating across trade, energy, security, and investment sectors.
During President Bola Tinubu’s three-day state visit to France in November 2024, Macron engaged in discussions with him covering communications, solid minerals, trade and investment, energy transition, and finance.
Diplomats expected Macron’s scheduled return visit to Nigeria to reinforce agreements established during Tinubu’s trip to France.
The French president—whose second and final term expires in May 2027—has maintained close alignment with the Nigerian leader since Tinubu assumed office in 2023.
Backstory…
French President Emmanuel Macron was scheduled to undertake a state visit to Nigeria on October 28 and 29, according to sources within the presidency.
The upcoming trip serves as a reciprocal visit following President Bola Tinubu’s three-day state visit to Paris in November 2024, during which both leaders engaged in bilateral talks covering trade and investment, solid minerals, energy transition, finance, and communications.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga noted that the 2024 visit aimed to strengthen political, economic, and cultural ties while fostering new collaborative opportunities.
