Bilateral trade between Nigeria and France reached $4.7 billion in 2025, as businesses from both countries deepen investments across energy, infrastructure, agriculture, logistics, finance and other sectors.

Speaking during the buildup of activities for this year’s French Week, the Consul General of France in Lagos, Laurent Favier, said the growing commercial relationship reflected a shift from diplomatic intentions to concrete business transactions, supported by active engagement between the two governments and private-sector organisations.

Favier, who described Nigeria as France’s leading trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, cited recent agreements on the development of the Gateway Deep Sea Port and the adjoining Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone as examples of expanding economic cooperation.

The agreements were advanced in Paris in September 2026 in the presence of President Tinubu, alongside broader efforts to attract investment and strengthen commercial links between the two countries.

According to Favier, over 100 French companies currently operate in Nigeria across pharmaceuticals, agriculture, insurance, logistics, transport, infrastructure and hospitality, generating roughly 14,000 direct local jobs.

He put France’s foreign direct investment stock in Nigeria at €8.1 billion in 2025, describing the investments as evidence of a long-term commitment to economic partnership and sustainable growth.

He noted that French companies, including TotalEnergies, CMA CGM, SPIE, Schneider Electric and Danone, are continuing to expand their Nigerian operations, while newer commercial developments are extending the relationship into retail, hospitality and entertainment.

Retail giant Carrefour and hospitality group Accor are among the French brands expanding their presence in Nigeria, while Canal+ has strengthened its position in the entertainment industry through its acquisition strategy involving MultiChoice.

Favier said the growing engagement reflected increasing opportunities for French businesses in Nigeria’s large consumer market and for Nigerian companies seeking access to French investors and European markets.

President of the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Guillaume Niarfeix, said this year’s French Week would focus on converting discussions between businesses into concrete partnerships and investment opportunities.

The week-long programme, described by the chamber as Nigeria’s largest C-level business networking event, is scheduled to hold in Lagos from tomorrow, October 29 to November 6, 2026.

Niarfeix said French investments are visible across several strategic sectors, including energy, transport and logistics, with projects expected to support infrastructure development and economic activity.

In the energy sector, he cited TotalEnergies’ 2024 final investment decision with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) on the Ubeta gas field, which is expected to supply gas to Nigeria LNG’s Train 7 project. He also referenced the more recent IMA project as part of continued investment activity.

In Lagos, the Omi Eko project is expected to transform water transportation by introducing 75 electric ferries, 25 upgraded terminals, and 15 routes covering 140 kilometres of waterways. The project is receiving support from France, through the French Development Agency (AFD), alongside the European Union and the European Investment Bank.

Niarfeix also highlighted the Lekki Deep Sea Port, where CMA CGM has agreed to operate the container terminal. The port has a 14-metre draft and an annual handling capacity of 2.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), positioning it as a significant logistics asset for international trade.

Beyond attracting French investment into Nigeria, he said the chamber is working to facilitate Nigerian businesses’ access to the French market.

Niarfeix said the FNCCI had extended its activities beyond Lagos through its first Executive Paris Leadership Training Programme and Business Mission earlier this year. The initiative connected Nigerian executives with French investors, institutions and policymakers.

Favier said Nigerian financial institutions are also strengthening their presence in France. With Access Bank opening a French Desk in Paris, major Nigerian banks, including Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa and First Bank of Nigeria, have established a presence in the country.

Further noting that major investment opportunities are also emerging in agribusiness and technology; he said Nigerian companies, JR Farms and Babafood have established operations in France via coffee production and exports, animal feed, cassava processing and the import-export of agro-industrial products. He further revealed that Flour Mills of Nigeria Group has also expressed interest in developing its presence in the French market.

To support this expansion, he said Nigeria participated in the International Agriculture Show in France in 2026, marking its second appearance at the event after the 2024 edition.

“In technology, GecX60, an Internet of Things start-up, has established a research and development centre within the Orange Group incubator in Blagnac, France. Convexity, a consultancy specialising in blockchain and payment solutions for non-governmental organisations, is also preparing to establish its first European office in Paris,” Favier said.

To deepen cooperation in agriculture, both countries have established the Franco-Nigerian Agri-Business Club, a platform designed to promote collaboration across the agrifood value chain.

The initiative, he said, is expected to encourage French agribusiness investors to support local capacity building, agricultural mechanisation and agro-processing, while helping reduce post-harvest losses and create opportunities for growth in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Niarfeix commended the Federal Government for its ongoing reforms and efforts to improve the ease of doing business, saying the measures are providing a firmer foundation for local and foreign investment.

He said French companies increasingly regard Nigeria as a strategic economic partner rather than simply a market for their products and services.

The French Week is expected to showcase existing investments, strengthen business-to-business engagement, and identify new areas for commercial cooperation between the two countries.