President Bola Tinubu, in a meeting held on Friday in Abuja, underscored the imperative for reinforced collaboration in addressing the prevailing threat of terrorism. The President commended the outgoing French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann, for her unwavering commitment to enhancing diplomatic ties between France and Nigeria.
In an official statement released by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, President Tinubu, during a farewell meeting with Ambassador Blatmann, emphasized the crucial need for her to leverage her newly appointed position as the Director for Africa in the French Foreign Ministry. The President urged her to advocate urgently for an “upgrade in technical cooperation” between Nigeria and France, with the primary goal of bolstering joint efforts to effectively combat terrorism and violent extremism.
In expressing his appreciation for Ambassador Blatmann’s efforts, President Tinubu acknowledged her excellence in promoting bilateral relations across various sectors, including the economy, trade, education, arts, and culture. He thanked her for her dedicated service in Nigeria, and noted that her appointment as Africa Director is a testament to her outstanding performance in the country.
President Tinubu stated, “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.”
Reflecting on her tenure in Nigeria, Ambassador Blatmann highlighted significant achievements, emphasizing France’s substantial investments and a remarkable increase in bilateral trade. According to her, France stands as one of the leading foreign investors in Nigeria, with an investment stock exceeding $10 billion. Furthermore, bilateral trade witnessed a noteworthy surge of 51 percent 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,” Ambassador Blatmann added.
Expressing her sentiments about Nigeria, Ambassador Blatmann remarked, “Ever since I arrived here in October 2021, it has been a series of wonderful discoveries and amazing encounters. I will definitely take away with me the energy and creativity of this country that will forever guide me and fuel my afro-optimism.”
Recognizing Nigeria’s pivotal role in regional security and stability, the outgoing ambassador emphasized the close collaboration between France, Nigeria, and other key partners in fostering sustainable international peace, security, and development.
