President Bola Tinubu on Monday received Madagascar President Randrianirina at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, for high-level talks aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between both countries.
The Malagasy leader arrived at the State House at 2:57 p.m. and received a ceremonial welcome from bagpipers of the Presidential Brigade of Guards before proceeding to the presidential complex.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu led the Nigerian delegation that welcomed the visiting president before officials ushered him into a closed-door meeting with Tinubu.
Madagascar President Randrianirina’s visit marks his first official trip to Nigeria since assuming office in October 2025 after the political transition that ended the administration of former President Andry Rajoelina.
The visit also represents the first recorded trip by a Malagasy head of state to Nigeria, as previous engagements between leaders of both nations mostly took place during international summits and multilateral events.
The meeting comes weeks after Tinubu and Randrianirina held a brief bilateral discussion on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, in May.
Past interactions between Nigeria and Madagascar, including those involving former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, largely occurred outside both countries during continental and global gatherings.
Since taking office, Randrianirina has intensified diplomatic outreach across Africa, visiting countries such as Gabon and expressing Madagascar’s interest in developing closer ties with the BRICS bloc.
Although officials have not disclosed the agenda of the talks, sources indicated that discussions may focus on regional security, agricultural cooperation, and climate change challenges affecting both nations, particularly Madagascar’s southern region.
