Since assuming office in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu has made France a frequent destination, sparking curiosity and debate among Nigerians.
With at least eight visits to the European nation since March 2023, including seven as president, the question on many lips is: What is in France?
The Presidency on Thursday announced a 10-day working vacation starting today, September 4, 2025.
Tinubu’s trips to Paris, which range from diplomatic meetings to rumoured medical vacations, raise unanswered questions.
As for why Tinubu frequently visits France, several factors emerge from available information:
Diplomatic and Economic Ties
Tinubu’s visits often focus on strengthening Nigeria-France relations. Nigeria is France’s top trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, with bilateral trade worth over $5 billion in 2023.
His state visit in November 2024, the first by a Nigerian leader in 24 years, aimed to boost investment in sectors like agriculture, energy, and infrastructure.
Strategic Meetings
Tinubu has utilised France as a base for important meetings. For example, his travel in April 2025 was called a “working visit” to review how his administration was doing in the middle of its term and prepare changes. He also reportedly used Paris as a meeting place for business and financial executives. Tinubu also met French President Emmanuel Macron during several visits, including in February 2025, before an African Union summit.
Medical Speculation
There is a lot of speculation, notably from critics, that Tinubu’s many trips may be for medical reasons. Several “private visits” (such in January 2024, August 2024, and February 2025) are thought to contain medical components, although they were officially described as diplomatic or personal.
The Presidency recently denied rumours that Tinubu is ill and is getting ready to be sent abroad for medical care. The Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, AbdulAziz AbdulAziz, told BBC Hausa that the Nigerian Institute for Investigative Journalism’s claims that the President was bedridden were false.
France’s African Strategy
France’s power in its old colonies (such Mali and Niger) because of competition from China and Russia is declining. Tinubu’s travels fit with France’s desire for economic ties, as French businesses like Danone and TotalEnergies are already doing business in Nigeria.
Personal Affinity
Tinubu apparently has a long-standing affection for France, visiting even before his presidency. By April 2025, he had spent at least 59 days in France during eight trips since assuming office in May 2023, more than any other country.
Tinubu’s trips show that Nigeria wants to be a player in the world arena, but the lack of openness behind some of them raises questions. As the president keeps flying to Paris, the question is still: What is in France?
