In a bid to boost its economic presence in West Africa following its military withdrawal from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, France's trade minister, Olivier Becht, visited Lagos and oversaw initial agreements between French and Nigerian companies. Becht emphasized that France is not being driven out of Africa and is not in decline, contrary to claims on social media. Nigeria is France's leading trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, with around 100 French companies employing over 10,000 people in the country.

During the visit, five partnership agreements-in-principle were signed between French and Nigerian tech, agriculture, and energy companies. French company Compagnie Fruitiere expressed its hopes to collaborate with Nigeria's Raedial Holdings to cultivate bananas in Cross River state. Becht's trip follows French foreign minister Catherine Colonna's recent visit to Abuja. Paris had maintained a strong military presence in its former colonies in West Africa and fostered business links through its Francafrique policy.

However, China and Russia have been challenging France's influence in the region. Despite the military setbacks, France aims to leverage its economic weight in West Africa and continue investments on the continent. Becht highlighted the importance of French companies' presence and investments in Africa for both the continent and the French economy. He also emphasized France's ability to offer high-quality products that meet environmental standards and benefit local populations, contrasting this with Chinese and Russian companies.