President of the Republic of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, arrived in Nigeria on Monday, for an official visit at the invitation of His Excellency President Bola  Tinubu.

The trip marks President Wadagni’s first bilateral visit since his inauguration on May 24, 2026, underscoring the importance Benin places on its strategic partnership with Nigeria under the new administration.

Benin and Nigeria share one of West Africa’s most robust bilateral relationships. Linked by an 809-kilometer border and centuries of trade, family, and cultural ties that predate colonial borders, the two nations formalized diplomatic relations on September 12, 1961.

Nigeria remains Benin’s top trading partner. The Autonomous Port of Cotonou is a critical gateway for Nigerian goods headed to landlocked countries in the sub-region. Benin’s Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) created over 14,000 jobs in 2025 and is drawing increasing interest from Nigerian investors. Formal exports from Benin to Nigeria jumped by more than 90% in 2024.

Other pillars of the relationship include the Sèmè-Kraké Joint Border Control Post, the West African Gas Pipeline, and the Benin-Nigeria Business Forum held in January 2026.

During talks with President Tinubu, President Wadagni addressed the full scope of their strategic partnership. Key areas include economic and industrial integration, energy cooperation, maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, regional stability, and strengthening cohesion within the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.