The Presidency has announced that France will repatriate $150 million looted by Nigeria’s former military leader, General Sani Abacha.
In a statement issued on Friday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, confirmed the news, with President Bola Tinubu expressing his gratitude for France’s decision.
President Tinubu received Catherine Colonna, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, and commended the strengthened bilateral relations between Nigeria and France. He highlighted that this progress was a direct result of 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,” President Tinubu stated during the meeting.
The President also emphasized the importance of reinforcing collaboration on both political and economic fronts, welcoming the growing cooperation between the two countries in areas of shared interest, such as climate change, economic integration, education, and culture.
President Tinubu acknowledged the signing of a €100 million agreement between Nigeria and France to support the i-DICE program, a Federal Government initiative aimed at promoting investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Creative Arts Industries.
The agreement was signed by Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Technology, and the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs at an earlier event at Tafawa Balewa House, the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In her remarks, the French minister conveyed the goodwill of President Emmanuel Macron and expressed France’s readiness to expand mutually beneficial collaboration with Nigeria across multiple sectors. She extended a formal invitation to President Bola Tinubu to attend the forthcoming Paris Peace Forum.
Speaking on the Abacha loot, the French Presidential Envoy explained that the repatriation 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.
Colonna also commended President Tinubu’s leadership in handling the affairs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), saying: “We support your efforts at ECOWAS. We are behind you because we believe that constitutional order is a treasure for all countries, and democracy must be a reality.”
