France Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthen Ties with Nigeria as FNCCI Marks 40 Years
✍️ By Tobi / 7th Nov 2025
France has once again pledged its commitment to deepen economic and diplomatic relations with Nigeria as the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) celebrates its 40th anniversary, marking four decades of promoting trade and investment between both nations.
Speaking at a briefing in Lagos, the Consul General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier, described Nigeria as France’s leading trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, noting that trade between both countries represents 20% of France’s total trade with the region.
He revealed that over 600 French businesses currently operate in Nigeria, collectively creating more than 16,000 direct jobs across various sectors.
“French businesses have found Nigeria not only a formidable market, but also an innovation hub with huge potential,” Favier stated.
He further commended Nigeria for its ongoing economic reforms aimed at improving the business climate and attracting foreign investments.
Favier highlighted major French investments in Nigeria, including:
- TotalEnergies’ $6 billion investment in the energy sector,
- Danone/FanMilk’s expansion in Oyo State,
- Schneider Electric’s new office facility, and
- SPIE Global Services Energy’s training centre in Port Harcourt.
He also applauded Nigerian companies such as Access Bank, Zenith Bank, and UBA for expanding into France, a move that continues to strengthen bilateral relations.
The Consul General mentioned the French Development Agency (AFD) and Proparco’s role in supporting Nigeria’s growth, referencing the Omi Eko water transport project recently inaugurated in Lagos.
Meanwhile, the French Embassy in Nigeria and AFRIFF have continued to celebrate the French-Nigerian film partnership, now in its fourth year. This year, twelve French film professionals were invited to Lagos for the Africa International Film Festival, to host a high-level event showcasing French excellence and expertise in the audiovisual sector within Nollywood’s vibrant creative space.
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