French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday night, as the Nigerian leader continued his three-week leave in Europe.

The meeting was disclosed on Friday by Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Social Media, who shared the information in a post on X.

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“French President @EmmanuelMacron hosted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a private dinner last night at the Élysée Palace,” Olusegun wrote.

The dinner brought the two leaders together in the French presidential residence, following Tinubu’s arrival in Paris as part of his ongoing European holiday.

Tinubu had departed Abuja on Sunday, August 30, 2026, for a three-week leave. London was his first destination before he proceeded to Paris for the next phase of the vacation.

The President’s trip had been announced by his administration as an annual leave period, with plans for him to return to Nigeria at the end of the break.

 Macron Hosts Tinubu as Nigeria-France Relations Remain in Focus

Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, also commented on the meeting, describing it as reflective of the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and France.

According to Onanuga, the engagement between the two presidents underscored the continuing ties between both countries and their shared interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The private nature of the dinner means details of the discussions between Tinubu and Macron were not immediately made public.

Neither Olusegun’s announcement nor Onanuga’s comments provided specific information about issues discussed during the dinner.

The engagement nevertheless comes within the broader context of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and France, with both countries maintaining ties across areas of mutual interest.

Tinubu’s arrival in Paris had earlier been received by Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Ayodele Oke, who welcomed the President upon his arrival in the French capital.

The President’s European trip has attracted attention because it coincides with preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

According to an earlier statement issued by Onanuga, titled “President Tinubu Begins Three-Week Leave,” Tinubu was expected to return to Abuja after his vacation and participate in activities connected with the campaign for the January 2027 general election.

The reported dinner with Macron therefore took place during a period when Tinubu was officially on leave from his regular presidential schedule.

The Élysée Palace meeting also adds a diplomatic dimension to the President’s stay in France, although the available announcement did not indicate that the dinner represented a formal bilateral summit or provide details of any agreements reached.

For now, the information released publicly centres on the private dinner itself and the continued relationship between Nigeria and France.

Further details about any policy, diplomatic or economic issues discussed by the two leaders would depend on subsequent statements from the Nigerian or French governments.