New Benin President Makes First Foreign Stop in Nigeria as Tinubu Hosts Strategic Talks

New Benin President Makes First Foreign Stop in Nigeria as Tinubu Hosts Strategic Talks

Nigeria on Monday received Benin Republic’s new President Romuald Wadagni in Abuja for his first official foreign visit since taking office, marking an early diplomatic engagement between both West African neighbours.

Wadagni, who assumed office on May 24, arrived Nigeria on an invitation from President Bola Tinubu and was formally received at the Presidential Villa, where both leaders held closed-door discussions.

The talks centred on key regional priorities, including economic integration, energy cooperation, maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, and broader efforts to stabilise West Africa under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) framework.

Officials say the visit signals a renewed emphasis by Benin on strengthening its strategic partnership with Nigeria, widely regarded as one of the most influential bilateral relationships in the region.

Both countries share deep historical, cultural and commercial ties shaped by an 809-kilometre border and centuries of uninterrupted cross-border trade and social exchange.

Nigeria remains Benin’s largest trading partner, with the Port of Cotonou serving as a critical logistics hub for goods moving across West Africa, particularly to landlocked states in the sub-region.

Economic cooperation between both nations continues to expand through initiatives such as the West African Gas Pipeline, the Sèmè-Kraké Joint Border Post, and growing private-sector investments from Nigerian businesses in Benin’s industrial zones.

The visit comes amid heightened regional security concerns and ongoing efforts to reinforce cooperation against cross-border threats and instability.

In a separate diplomatic engagement, President Wadagni also visited Niger on Tuesday, marking the first such presidential visit since the 2023 coup that strained relations in the region.

Relations between Niger and Benin had deteriorated after border closures and accusations from Niger’s military authorities, claims that Benin has consistently rejected.

The latest moves are being viewed as part of a broader diplomatic reset aimed at restoring dialogue, rebuilding trust, and strengthening security cooperation across the Sahel and coastal West Africa.