By Nifemi Adefemi
(with Agency reports)

President Bola Tinubu, on Friday in Abuja, emphasised the urgent need to ”upgrade technical cooperation” between Nigeria and France to defeat terrorism and violent extremism

Tinubu who made the call at a farewell meeting with the outgoing French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann, also called for strengthened cooperation to address the prevailing threat of terrorism.

”You have been excellent in promoting bilateral relations between both countries in the areas of economy, trade, education, arts, and culture. Thank you for the hard work you have done in Nigeria and for President Macron to appoint you to a new position as Africa Director, it is a testament that you excelled in your assignment in our country.

”You will always be welcomed in Nigeria. On regional security, we want you to remind Paris at every opportunity that it is necessary to upgrade our technical cooperation in our joint efforts to defeat terrorism and counter violent extremism in the region,” he said.

President Tinubu urged Ambassador Blatmann to leverage her new role as Director for Africa in the French Foreign Ministry to advocate the urgent need to ”upgrade technical cooperation” between Nigeria and France to defeat terrorism and violent extremism.

Responding, , Ambassador Blatmann acknowledged Nigeria’s pivotal role in regional security and stability. She noted that France is among the top foreign investors in Nigeria, with over $10 billion in investment stock, and with bilateral trade increasing by 51 per cent in 2021 and 2022.

”We are also one of the biggest development partners with over 3 billion Euros invested over the last decade by AFD and PROPARCO. AFD now operates in 26 of Nigeria’s 36 states.