FRANCE has offered to come to Nigeria's assistance as she grapples to provide social services and infrastructure for her people by investing €130m in the country's power sector as well as helping rebuild roads and providing potable water.  

Yesterday, French President Francois Hollande, made the pledge while in Paris while hosting President Muhammadu Buhari for a three-day summit.  According to President Hollande, France has concluded arrangements to invest a total of €130m in the development of infrastructure in Nigeria, including rebuilding roads, the provision of electricity and supplying water. 

He noted that in spite of the fall in the price of crude oil in the international market, which had affected Nigerian expected revenue, the country’s economy still remained strong. According to President Hollande, France intends to increase the visibility of its investors in Nigeria and wants to do more business with the country. 

According to President Hollande,  despite the fall in the price of crude oil, which has affected Nigeria's expected revenue, the country’s economy still remained strong. Yesterday, he and President Buhari discussed a memorandum of understanding to build a €30m solar power plant with a capacity of 10 to 14 megawatts in Osun State. 

President Hollande said: “The Nigerian economy remains strong, so, France wants to be doing business in the country." He and President Buhari also discussed an earlier agreement on the establishment of a joint committee to increase trade and investment. 

In his response, President Buhari thanked the French president for his government’s interest in assisting Nigeria and expressed the readiness of his administration to partner with France for the development of the country. Today, President Buhari will continue with the visit and hold talks with the French business community. 

President Buhari said: “We have to depend on France and the other G7 countries for support to fight piracy. Another problem we face in the Gulf of Guinea, from Senegal to Angola, is that the area is endowed with resources like petroleum and other minerals but surrounded by piracy and theft.”

During yesterday's session, Presidents Buhari and Hollande also discussed climate change, which is linked to power supply. France had already committed itself to providing Nigeria with military hardware to combat Boko Haram and terrorism.