In his first official diplomatic outing since taking office, the newly inaugurated President of the Republic of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, arrived in Lagos on Monday afternoon for a private meeting with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
President Wadagni’s aircraft touched down in Lagos, where he was formally received by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Governor Sanwo-Olu subsequently escorted the visiting head of state to the private residence of President Tinubu.
According to State House Correspondent Musbau Dan-Wahab, the two West African leaders immediately went into a closed-door session. The high-level meeting lasted approximately 30 minutes, focusing on reinforcing bilateral ties and regional security.
Mr. Wadagni’s visit comes just over a week after his official swearing-in ceremony. Following his victory in Benin’s presidential election on April 12, 2026, he was officially inaugurated on May 24, 2026, succeeding outgoing President Patrice Talon. Affirming Nigeria’s solidarity, President Tinubu had delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent the nation at the inauguration ceremony in Porto-Novo.
The swiftness of President Wadagni’s visit underscores the strategic importance of the Abuja-Porto-Novo alliance. Benin Republic shares a critical western border with Nigeria, making the two nations deeply interdependent regarding trade, border security, and economic cooperation.
