France and Nigeria maintain strong bilateral relations, particularly in the economic and cultural fields. These relations are fostered through various initiatives and collaborations facilitated by the French consulate in Nigeria.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first official visit abroad was to Paris, to take part in the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact on 22 and 23 June 2023. President Muhammadu Buhari took part in the Summit on the Financing of African Economies in Paris on 18 May 2021. During this visit, he had a meeting with the French President. President Buhari returned to France in November 2021 for the Paris Peace Forum, and was received at the Élysée Palace.
On 28 June 2021, six major Nigerian businesspeople took part in the France-Nigeria Business Council meeting at the Château de Versailles, on the sidelines of the Choose France Summit, in the presence of Minister Delegate Riester. The Council was an opportunity for the business communities of both countries to forge ties giving rise to promising new projects.
Economic Relations
Nigeria is France’s leading trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, and the fourth-largest in Africa, behind Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. In 2021, Nigeria accounted for 20% of France’s trade with sub-Saharan Africa, amounting to €3.53 billion. In 2021, French exports to Nigeria rose steeply in value on the previous year, from €528 million to €611 million, or a 16% rise, in the first year of rising French sales to Nigeria in 9 years.
Manufactured products represent almost the totality of France’s exports to Nigeria, with agrifood products being the leading export at around 30%. While petroleum products represent 95% of our imports from Nigeria, the around 100 French companies in the country are present in various economic sectors, including pharmaceuticals, energy, insurance, agrifood, shipping and hospitality, employing around 10,000 people directly.
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French foreign direct investment in Nigeria has doubled in a decade, confirming the historic and long-term activities of our companies. The France-Nigeria Business Council was launched in 2018 and brings together the major French and Nigerian companies that wish to launch investment partnerships together.
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Cultural and Educational Cooperation
The French cooperation network in Nigeria includes 15 sites, coordinated by the Abuja Embassy’s Cooperation and Cultural Action Service (SCAC): the Institut Français of Nigeria, two schools licenced by the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), a French Secular Mission (MLF) school in Port Harcourt, 10 Alliance Française branches across the country, and the French Research Institute in Africa in Ibadan (IFRA-Ibadan) , supervised by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS).
The Lagos Alliance Française branch, the Mike Adenuga Centre, has become a key centre since its inauguration by the French President in 2018. The SCAC manages several projects financed through the Ministry’s Solidarity Fund for Innovative Projects (FSPI). The “Cultural and Creative Industries” FSPI, for example, aims to consolidate existing partnerships between French and Nigerian stakeholders in this field (music, digital technology, performing arts, etc.) and spark new ones, particularly in the field of e-sport in Lagos.
As part of its linguistic and educational cooperation, the Embassy of France in Nigeria is launching a call for applications to support the creation of Digital Resource Centers in Nigerian universities. This project aims to enhance French language learning, develop students’ transversal skills, and strengthen their employability.
Development and Security Cooperation
In the area of development, the AFD focuses on the diversification of the country’s economy, the low-carbon energy transition and sustainable and productive farming to ensure food security. The projects implemented by the AFD and its subsidiary dedicated to private sector development, Proparco, directly benefit Nigerian citizens, workers and businesspeople by supporting the efforts of the federal government and constituent states to guarantee better access to basic services like water and electricity, to infrastructure and to a more conducive business environment.
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Security and defence cooperation aims to provide support to Nigeria’s army, navy and police forces. Military cooperation focuses on French language education to provide support to the strategy drafted by President Buhari, which aims to ensure in five years that most officers are able to interact with the armed forces of Francophone countries in the subregion. The maritime security project concerns hydrography, diving, maritime cyber security, fleet maintenance and special forces.
This broadens France’s cooperation with the Gulf of Guinea’s leading navy. France also supports the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in its fight against Boko Haram through intelligence and operational cooperation, working from N’Djamena.
Visa Application Services
They are invited to drop by TLScontact's visa centers in Abuja and Lagos. The Visa Application fees (pdf) collected by the French administration for the processing of your application. These visa fees are collected directly by TLSContact on behalf of the French ministry of foreign Affairs. These fees must be paid only by card in local currency.
- The TLS service fees: The service fees collected by TLSContact amounting to 28 € and payable online according to the French official exchange rate.
- They are not refundable in case of cancellation of the appointment.
- Optional paid services are also available for visa applicants.
- In case of problems with your visa application project, TLSContact is at your disposal to assist you.
Important: the consular departments accept only documents in French or English language.
Exemptions
Children aged under 12 are exempt from biometric data collection. Their application has to be submitted by one of the parents or by a person entrusted with legal authority on them. Visas issued to official passport holders are free.
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Prohibited Items
The Visa Application Centre cannot store/keep any prohibited items. Here are some examples of items that are not allowed:
- Any inflammable items e.g. lighter, matches.
- Any sharp objects e.g. knife, scissors.
The above list is not complete.
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