Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, today Friday in Abuja, commended France for returning $150 million stolen from Nigeria by former military Head of State, late General Sani Abacha.
A statement signed by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said that in addition to the recovery of another tranche of Abacha loot, the President acknowledged the signing of a €100 million agreement between Nigeria and France to support the i-DICE programme .
The i–DICE programme is a Federal Government initiative to promote investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Creative Arts Industries.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Technology; Dr. Bosun Tijani for Nigeria ,while the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna signed for France at an earlier event at Tafawa Balewa House, the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the statement Tinubu appreciated the strengthening of bilateral relations between both countries, adding that this progress followed his visit to Paris after his inauguration.
“Thank you for the good news on the return of Abacha loot. We appreciate your effective cooperation concerning the return of Nigeria’s money. It will be judiciously applied in attaining our development objectives,” the President told Catherine Colonna, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, who delivered the news.
The President emphasised the need to reinforce collaboration on both political and economic fronts, and welcomed the growing cooperation between the two countries in areas of shared interest, such as climate change, economic integration, education, and culture.
Speaking on the latest situation in Niger Republic, President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, said Nigeria was monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country, and exploring diplomatic channels to avoid bloodshed.
The French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs conveyed the goodwill of President Emmanuel Macron and expressed the readiness of France to expand mutually beneficial collaboration with Nigeria across multiple sectors.
She proceeded to extend a formal invitation to President Bola Tinubu to attend the forthcoming Paris Peace Forum.
On the Abacha loot, the French Envoy said that the return of the money followed the completion of legal processes.
“It was a long process, but we are glad that it was concluded. Sometimes, justice may be slow, but this is a very good achievement,” she said.
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