President Bola Tinubu returned to Nigeria on April 22, 2025, after a five-day working visit to France, where he secured a €500 million renewable energy deal to bolster Nigeria’s 4,500MW power grid, the Presidency announced.
Departing Abuja on April 17, Tinubu met French President Emmanuel Macron, discussing counterterrorism and trade, with France pledging 200 military trainers for Lake Chad, per Arise News. At a Paris business summit, Tinubu pitched Nigeria’s $2 billion tech sector, targeting 500,000 jobs by 2027.
The energy deal, led by Schneider Electric, will deploy 10 solar farms in northern states, adding 1,000MW by 2026, complementing Nigeria’s $23.2 billion Siemens project. Critics highlight Tinubu’s 12 trips in 2024, costing ₦8 billion, against Nigeria’s 32% inflation and ₦1,650/$ naira rate, per Premium Times. Supporters argue the deal, covering 10% of Nigeria’s $5 billion energy gap, justifies the visit. Tinubu’s next stop is Kano for a state project launch.