LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday hosted the newly inaugurated President of the Republic of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, at his private residence in Lagos.
The high-profile meeting on June 1, 2026, marks Wadagni’s first official diplomatic visit to Nigeria since taking the oath of office just over a week ago in Cotonou.
Okay News reports that the visit, described by diplomatic officials as a private and fraternal engagement, highlights a swift effort by the new Beninese administration to solidify regional ties with its economic powerhouse neighbor. Wadagni, who previously served as Benin’s influential Economy and Finance Minister, assumed the presidency on May 24 after securing a decisive 94 percent of the vote in the April 12 elections, succeeding his two-term mentor, Patrice Talon.
While details of the closed-door discussions were not formally made public, sources close to the presidency indicate that the two West African leaders reviewed critical matters of bilateral interest. Top on the agenda were strategies to enhance border security, combat smuggling, and stimulate legitimate trade corridors between Nigeria and Benin. The conversation also touched upon wider regional security dynamics, particularly regarding the ongoing border tensions involving neighboring Niger and the Alliance of Sahel States.
