The France-Nigeria Business Council informed registered participants of the decision in an email sent on Saturday, October 24, according to a report by Premium Times.

The notification stated that the forum would be rescheduled after the Nigerian and French presidents agreed to postpone Macron’s visit. It added that the state visit was now expected to take place in 2027, while a new date and arrangements for the business forum would be communicated once confirmed.

The council did not announce a replacement date for the event.

The forum was expected to bring together Nigerian and French business leaders to explore opportunities for trade, investment and economic cooperation. Macron’s visit was also scheduled to feature in this year’s French Week activities organised by the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The postponement follows reports that Macron’s planned trip to Nigeria and Senegal, initially scheduled for late October, had been deferred. A French presidential source confirmed the change in plans, describing the proposed West African trip as part of a diplomatic and cooperation agenda.

Although reports have linked the decision to protests and unrest in France, the French presidential source cited in international reporting did not explicitly identify the demonstrations as the reason for postponing the visit.

Premium Times separately reported that concerns surrounding France’s domestic situation, Nigeria’s forthcoming presidential election and a recently reported Ebola case were among the issues considered during discussions about the trip. These explanations have not been formally confirmed by both governments as the official reasons for the postponement.

Macron’s visit was expected to build on the relationship between Nigeria and France following President Bola Tinubu’s three-day state visit to France in November 2024. The two countries have pursued cooperation in areas including trade, investment, energy, solid minerals and security.

In July, France’s ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, Marc Fonbaustier, said the planned visit would provide an opportunity for both presidents to assess progress on their bilateral roadmap and establish priorities for future cooperation.

The proposed trip was also expected to include a delegation of French businesspeople who would meet with Nigerian counterparts to explore potential commercial partnerships.

With the forum now postponed, participating businesses will have to await a revised schedule before proceeding with plans for the gathering.

The delay does not necessarily signal the cancellation of the wider business engagement between the two countries. However, the absence of a confirmed date means that businesses seeking to participate will have to wait for further communication from the organisers.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia