President Tinubu invites French investors, highlighting Nigeria’s economic potential and readiness for global partnerships at a high-level forum.
President Bola Tinubu has assured French investors that the nation is open for business, emphasizing his administration’s efforts to establish a conducive environment for their success.
During a joint briefing with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace on Thursday, Tinubu made this statement.
Tinubu stated, “We have been making progress in stabilizing Nigeria’s security system and are getting closer to achieving our goals. Our security measures are improving, and I want to assure all investors that Nigeria is ready for business.”
Tinubu stated, “We guarantee a free market economy with easy access and no obstacles.”
The President of Nigeria highlighted the skilled and educated youth in his country, emphasizing their readiness for further training as a key reason why French investors should consider investing in this West African nation.
“We have a dynamic, well-educated youth population that is skilled and eager to be trained for our economy’s development,” Tinubu stated during his three-day visit to France.
I want to stress that this is why we need the French experts and investors to increase their efforts in developing our youth population.
He mentioned that Nigeria is striving to diversify its economy beyond fossil fuels and expressed the belief that France can play a crucial role in supporting this transition.
“We have the opportunity to shift our economy away from reliance on fossil fuels,” he stated.
“In Lagos, we’ve managed to harness the Atlantic Ocean and continue to advance our marine and blue economy initiatives. The fisheries sector plays a crucial role in enhancing our economic potential,” remarked the 72-year-old.
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President Tinubu expressed gratitude to the French government for supporting Nigerian businesses and ensuring their stability within France.
“We appreciate your efforts in fostering an environment where they can thrive, and we are establishing similar conditions for French nationals to invest in the Nigerian economy, specifically focusing on food security,” Tinubu stated.
Nigeria is Africa’s top oil producer and boasts a thriving film industry known as “Nollywood.”
However, insecurity and other challenges have resulted in millions of Nigerians living below the poverty line as inflation figures reach new highs.
Tinubu recognized that the country still has further progress to make and expressed a desire to collaborate with France in achieving this goal.
“Nigeria is prepared to collaborate with France to establish a comprehensive security operation aimed at curbing migration,” he added, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a peaceful environment for businesses to thrive.
He told Macron, “Regarding the defense industry, I genuinely value what you shared with us and your promise for the future.”
Macron, aged 46, who has been pursuing a “renewal” in the relationship between Paris and Africa since his election in 2017, stated that France will “continue to invest” in Nigeria. This comes at a time when French influence on the continent is diminishing due to military coups and shifting perspectives.
Tinubu’s visit marks the first official state visit by a Nigerian leader in over twenty years.
