President Bola Tinubu, in Abuja on Friday, called for enhanced cooperation to address the ongoing terrorism threat. He commended outgoing French Ambassador Emmanuelle Blatmann for her dedication to strengthening relations between France and Nigeria.
During a farewell meeting, President Tinubu urged Ambassador Blatmann, now Director for Africa in the French Foreign Ministry, to advocate for an “upgrade in technical cooperation” between Nigeria and France to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
Tinubu praised the Ambassador’s efforts in promoting bilateral relations, covering areas such as economy, trade, education, arts, and culture. He emphasized the need to remind Paris about enhancing technical cooperation in joint counterterrorism efforts.
Ambassador Blatmann highlighted France’s significant investments in Nigeria, exceeding $10 billion, and a 51% increase in bilateral trade in 2021 and 2022. She also noted France’s role as a major development partner, investing over 3 billion Euros in the last decade through AFD and PROPARCO.
Reflecting on her time in Nigeria, Ambassador Blatmann expressed admiration for the country’s energy and creativity, stating that the experience would guide her and fuel her “afro-optimism.”
Recognizing Nigeria’s vital role in regional security, the outgoing ambassador emphasized the close collaboration between France, Nigeria, and other key partners in fostering sustainable international peace, security, and development.
