President Bola Tinubu on Monday met billionaire businessman Femi Otedola at a private dinner in Paris, France, amid continued attention over the President’s prolonged stay in Europe and his expected return to Nigeria today.
Otedola disclosed the meeting in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, sharing a photograph of himself with Tinubu at the dinner. He also expressed support for the President’s economic policies and reforms.
The businessman highlighted what he described as gains from the administration’s economic reforms, including the inclusion of Nigerian companies in the FTSE Russell Frontier 50 Index, the performance of the Nigerian Exchange and increased foreign direct investment.
Otedola also pointed to what he described as a more stable foreign exchange market and said Nigeria’s foreign reserves were standing at about 55 billion dollars.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London for what the Presidency initially described as a three-week working vacation. He later travelled to Paris, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The Presidency announced an extension of the President’s stay on September 21, saying he would return after a few more days. His return date was subsequently adjusted, with presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirming on September 27 that Tinubu would return on Tuesday, September 29, ahead of Nigeria’s Independence Day celebrations on October 1.
The President’s prolonged absence has attracted criticism from opposition groups and other Nigerians, particularly following his absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the UN General Assembly and delivered the country’s national statement.
The Presidency has maintained that Tinubu’s absence would not affect Nigeria’s diplomatic standing or its role in African affairs.
The President’s meeting with Otedola in Paris comes on the day he is expected to return to Nigeria, bringing renewed attention to his extended stay abroad.
