President Bola Tinubu on Monday hosted the President of Madagascar, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja for high-level talks focused on boosting diplomatic and economic cooperation between both countries.
President Randrianirina arrived at the State House in the afternoon and was given an official welcome before going into a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu.
On arrival, the visiting Malagasy leader was received by top government officials, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, before being escorted to the President’s office for the discussions.
This visit is Randrianirina’s first official trip to Nigeria since he assumed office in October 2025 following political changes in Madagascar.
While the full details of the meeting were not made public, diplomatic sources say both leaders discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in key areas such as trade, agriculture, security, climate action, and regional development.
The talks are also linked to broader efforts to deepen African unity and expand economic opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
The meeting in Abuja follows an earlier encounter between both presidents at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where they reportedly agreed to strengthen ties between Nigeria and Madagascar.
Observers say the visit highlights growing cooperation among African countries as leaders work together to tackle shared challenges like food security, infrastructure gaps, economic growth, and climate change.
Madagascar has recently stepped up its diplomatic engagements across Africa in search of stronger partnerships and investment opportunities.
The outcome of the Abuja meeting is expected to further deepen relations between Nigeria and Madagascar and open new areas of collaboration for both nations.