Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has described President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to France as a significant step toward strengthening bilateral relations and opening new opportunities for subnational governments like Enugu State.

Speaking to reporters in Paris on the sidelines the state visit at the weekend, Governor Mbah, who is on the President’s delegation, emphasised the importance of such high-level engagements in driving growth and development at both national and state levels.

“This visit demonstrates the strong relationship between Nigeria and France. It’s not just about diplomacy; it’s also about creating opportunities for states like ours to explore trade, investment, and development partnerships,” he said.

Governor Mbah highlighted ongoing collaborations with France’s development finance institution, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), which he said, was already partnering with the state to expand Enugu’s urban water scheme.

He noted that the visit provided a platform to consolidate existing deals and explore additional areas of cooperation such as agriculture.

“For us in Enugu, this is beyond an exploratory mission. It is an opportunity to strengthen and build on partnerships that can directly impact our people through enhanced infrastructure and economic growth,” he stated.

He described the state visit to France as “remarkable and consequential,” emphasising its significance as the first such visit in 24 years.

Mbah highlighted the warm reception extended by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, as well as the fruitful discussions that underscored the strong bilateral ties between Nigeria and France.

“This visit demonstrates the strong bilateral relationship between France and Nigeria. State visits like this further strengthen and build on such relationships, offering opportunities for both nations to explore new trade and investment prospects,” Mbah stated.