French President Emmanuel Macron has postponed his planned state visit to Nigeria until early 2027.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the development follows an agreement between Macron and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The trip was initially scheduled for October 29 to November 6, 2026.
The specific reasons for the postponement have not been disclosed, while a new date for the visit has yet to be announced.
Macron’s planned visit had earlier been announced by French diplomatic officials as part of efforts to deepen bilateral relations between both countries.
The visit was also expected to build on agreements and discussions from Tinubu’s three-day state visit to France in November 2024, during which both leaders explored opportunities for cooperation in finance, energy transition, solid minerals, trade, investment and communications.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga had previously explained that Tinubu’s visit to France was intended to strengthen political, economic and cultural relations between the two countries while creating additional opportunities for cooperation.
Macron’s proposed trip would have been his first visit to Nigeria since July 2018, when he visited the country during the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
...ponement also comes days after former South-East presidential spokesman Denge Josef Onoh urged the French president to suspend his planned visit and focus on domestic challenges before undertaking diplomatic engagements abroad.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Onoh argued that Macron should reconsider the timing of the visit, citing reported unrest in France and the need for the French government to address pressing domestic concerns.
“True statesmanship requires prioritising the home front when the foundations are shaking,” Onoh said.
He questioned the appropriateness of Macron travelling to Nigeria for diplomatic engagements while France was reportedly experiencing unrest, arguing that the president should prioritise addressing the concerns of French citizens.
“President Macron cannot be seen playing global politics and chasing bilateral photo-ops in Abuja while the streets of Paris and other French cities are burning. You do not go structural shopping in Africa when your own house is on fire,” he said.
Onoh also urged the French government to prioritise the country’s long-standing national values over immediate political considerations, expressing concern that domestic instability could threaten the social fabric supporting France’s cultural heritage.
“It is time for the French government to focus on enduring French values over temporary political values,” he added.
The former presidential spokesman also argued that Nigeria should carefully consider the timing of the proposed engagement as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
According to him, Nigeria must concentrate on addressing its domestic challenges, rebuilding its economy and restoring public confidence in its institutions.
“Nigeria has its problems, and it is the sole responsibility of Nigerians to focus on and solve their own problems,” Onoh said.
He maintained that although Nigeria remained open to international partnerships, diplomatic engagements should involve partners capable of managing their domestic affairs while pursuing cooperation abroad.
“We love diplomacy, and Nigeria remains a premier destination for global partnerships. However, we need a French President who is stable at home to partner with us effectively abroad,” he said.
“For the sake of the French people and the integrity of international diplomacy, President Macron should stay in Paris, face the protesters, address their grievances, and reschedule his Nigerian visit for a time when France is not burning.”
Onoh cited the postponement of a planned state visit by Britain’s King Charles III to France in March 2023 amid widespread protests against pension reforms. He also referred to the May 1968 unrest under former French President Charles de Gaulle and the suburban riots of 2005 under former President Jacques Chirac as examples of periods when domestic instability placed pressure on French administrations.
Macron, who began his second and final presidential term in 2022, is expected to leave office in May 2027, when his current constitutional term ends.
He has maintained diplomatic relations with Tinubu since the Nigerian leader assumed office in May 2023.