Source : Sahel weather Novembre 2024 

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On Thursday, November 28, 2024, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, paid a two-day state visit to Paris at the invitation of his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, as part of a drive to strengthen political and economic relations. This is the first such visit between the two countries in 24 years, against a backdrop of Nigeria's internal socio-economic crisis, exacerbated by persistent social unrest and rising inflation. France is seeking to diversify its economic and commercial partners in Africa, particularly in view of recent events in certain Sahel states. The two countries have a long-standing economic partnership, making France Nigeria's leading trading partner in Europe. French companies have long had a presence in the country, particularly in the energy sector (Total Energie).

 At the end of the state visit, a number of announcements and investment pledges were made, notably by the French President who, through the French Development Agency (AFD), intends to invest over 330 million euros from 2025 onwards in food security, urban mobility, higher education, agriculture, vocational training and climate change projects. An agreement was also signed between the Finance Ministers of the two countries, focusing on bilateral investments in priority sectors such as energy infrastructure and public transport. 

 The Nigerian market today attracts international partners not only because of its geographical position, but also because of its galloping demography, estimated at 227 million inhabitants, with projections of up to 410 million by 2050 according to the United Nations (UN). As one of Africa's most populous countries, Nigeria ranks fourth in GDP according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). What's more, on November 17, 2024, Tinubu extended a two-day invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to breathe new life into their bilateral partnerships.

Given the immense opportunities in several sectors, coveted by many countries, France considers that Nigeria could be a pivotal state in its vision of diversifying partners in Africa. At present, Tinubu's political vision is one of openness to attract foreign investors. And as mentioned in the joint speeches: “We must do more, promote more, invest more”. These words also underline the importance of intensifying efforts in key areas such as security and education, which are closely linked to socio-economic issues.

At the same time, Nigeria is facing intensifying security challenges, with the rise of terrorist attacks carried out by armed groups, especially in the Gulf of Guinea, the northeast and the Lake Chad region. In fact, on November 9, 2024, the Nigerian army reported a security threat in the northwest of the country, where the armed group Lakurawa carried out incursions into the states of Sokoto and Kebbi, bordering Niger. Despite the scale of these challenges, Nigeria also faces major internal problems, such as poverty and education, as it alone accounts for 15% of the world's out-of-school children. This latter phenomenon is attributed to a number of factors, including the lack of funding for schools by the federal states. 

The country is facing a number of problems, provoking anger among the population, who express it through demonstrations. People have been arrested in protest against rising prices and bad governance. On November 04, 2024, a controversy broke out concerning children accused of treason, exacerbated by the broadcast of a video of their appearance, raising concerns about their treatment. Voices were raised at national and international level, notably on social networks, calling for their release. In the face of this pressure, the children were released. However, the mobilizers are calling for the creation of an independent commission of inquiry to examine the treatment of the minors, and for the release of all detainees accused of treason.