President Bola Tinubu has expressed his gratitude to France for the repatriation of $150 million, which had been stolen from Nigeria by former Head of State, General Sani Abacha. Additionally, he has acknowledged the signing of a €100 million agreement between Nigeria and France to support the i-DICE program, a Federal Government initiative aimed at promoting investments in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the Creative Arts Industries. 

This agreement was formally signed in Abuja by Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Technology, and the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

In a statement released on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), President Tinubu commended the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and France. 

He highlighted that these positive developments had stemmed from his visit to Paris following his inauguration. President Tinubu expressed his appreciation to Catherine Colonna, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, for her role in facilitating the return of the Abacha loot. He assured that the repatriated funds would be used prudently to advance Nigeria’s development objectives.

President Tinubu also stressed the importance of enhancing collaboration in both political and economic domains. He welcomed the growing cooperation between the two nations in areas of mutual interest, such as climate change, economic integration, education, and culture. 

Additionally, as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Tinubu addressed the situation in Niger Republic, emphasizing that Nigeria is closely monitoring developments in the neighboring country and exploring diplomatic channels to prevent violence.

He added: “Leadership is about responding to the needs of the people; their cries, and their frustrations. Nigeria shares a border with Niger across the expanse of seven Nigerian states, and most of these states are very populated. Therefore, I need to guide ECOWAS carefully and steadily so that we manage our anger carefully.

”We have a colleague and a democratically-elected leader, President Bazoum, being used as a human shield. If we are not careful, he and his family can be endangered.

”I am deploying all appropriate back-channel strategies to avoid bloodshed in Niger Republic. We recognize the wishes of our people; they do not want war, but that does not mean we can not take bold and decisive action.”

President Tinubu said Nigeria will continue to galvanize international partners in the determined pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the situation in Niger Republic.

The French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs conveyed the goodwill of President Emmanuel Macron and expressed the readiness of France to expand mutually beneficial collaboration with Nigeria across multiple sectors.

She extended a formal invitation to President Tinubu to attend the forthcoming Paris Peace Forum.

Speaking on the Abacha loot, the French Presidential Envoy said the repatriation followed the completion of legal processes.

“It was a long process, but we are glad that it was concluded. Sometimes, justice may be slow, but this is a very good achievement,” she said.  

Ms. Colonna also commended President Tinubu’s leadership in ECOWAS, saying: “We support your efforts at ECOWAS. We are behind you because we believe that constitutional order is a treasure for all countries, and democracy must be a reality.