PHOTO: Otedola meets Tinubu in France

Billionaire businessman and Chairman of Geregu Power Plc, Femi Otedola, has met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at a private dinner in Paris, France.

Otedola disclosed the meeting in a post on social media, where he praised the president’s economic policies and described them as “bold and forward-thinking reforms.”

According to the businessman, the reforms had placed Nigeria’s economy on what he described as a path of sustainable growth.

He cited what he described as increasing signs of economic recovery, including the inclusion of Nigerian companies on the FTSE Russell Frontier 50 Index, gains in the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), increased foreign direct investment and renewed investor confidence.

Otedola also pointed to what he described as a more unified and stable foreign exchange market and Nigeria’s foreign reserves, which he said stood at about $55 billion.

“I remain proud of you, Mr. President!” Otedola said while sharing details of the meeting.

The businessman did not disclose the specific issues discussed during the private dinner.

The meeting comes amid President Tinubu’s stay in France, where he has held engagements with French officials and business interests.

French President Emmanuel Macron also hosted Tinubu to a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris on September 17, with both leaders discussing the Nigeria-France relationship and bilateral cooperation.

Tinubu has been away from the country for a month, although the Presidency announced that he was on a three-week vacation to Europe.

Last week when the opposition raised concerns about the absence of the President, Bayo Onanuga, Presidential spokesman, had said the vacation had been extended “by a few more days”.

There were reports that Tinubu would return at the weekend but he did not, fueling speculations about his health. However, the Presidency said Nigeria’s number one citizen is hale and hearty.