Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni pays official visit to Nigeria

• …strengthens bilateral tiies

President of the Republic of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, is on an official visit to Nigeria on June 1, 2026, following an invitation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The visit marks the first bilateral engagement by the Beninese leader since his inauguration on May 24, 2026, and underscores his administration’s commitment to strengthening strategic relations with Nigeria.

Benin and Nigeria share one of the closest diplomatic and economic relationships in West Africa, anchored on an 809-kilometre border and long-standing historical, cultural, and commercial ties that predate colonial boundaries. Formal diplomatic relations between both countries were established on September 12, 1961.

On the economic front, Nigeria remains Benin’s largest trading partner. The Autonomous Port of Cotonou continues to serve as a key transit hub for regional trade, while the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), which created over 14,000 jobs in 2025, is attracting increasing interest from Nigerian investors. Bilateral trade flows also recorded significant growth, with Benin’s exports to Nigeria rising by over 90% in 2024.

Key integration frameworks such as the Sèmè-Kraké Joint Border Control Post, the West African Gas Pipeline, and the Benin-Nigeria Business Forum held in January 2026 further highlight deepening cooperation between both countries.

During the visit, President Wadagni is expected to hold talks with President Tinubu on a wide range of issues, including economic and industrial integration, energy cooperation, maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, and broader regional stability within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The visit is expected to further consolidate diplomatic and economic ties between both nations.