As Nigeria forges ahead in her bilateral trade with other countries, trade between Nigeria and France has  hit $7.3 billion.

According to French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jacques Chanpagne De Labriolle,  the figure is more than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 20 African nations combined.

Labriolle further added that the figure was also more than what France generated from all the French-speaking countries in West Africa annually.

According to him, French investment in the country cuts across all sectors of the economy but notably in oil and gas. “We, French, believe that Nigeria is a country of extraordinary potential; it is already, and by far, our first partner in Africa, south of the Sahara.

“We believe in Nigeria’s potential, and we believe in the future of this nation; this country can be, and should be much higher ranking in the various international indexes of good governance of doing business and transparency.”

The Ambassador said the cordial bilateral relations between Nigeria and France had further been boosted with the introduction of daily direct Air France flights from Abuja to Paris, last month.