President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Paris brought two notable outcomes for Nigeria: a decisive legal victory in the long‑running dispute over the Mambilla hydro‑electric project and public tributes to the late veteran actor Olu Jacobs and to Peter, whose contributions were also honoured.
The legal win was secured during talks in the French capital, where Nigerian officials confirmed that a court or arbitration panel ruled in favour of Nigeria on matters relating to the Mambilla project. The Mambilla scheme, a multi‑billion‑dollar hydro‑electric dam in the country’s eastern region, has been stalled for years amid contractual and financing challenges.
Authorities said the ruling clears a major obstacle, potentially allowing the project to move forward and contribute to Nigeria’s power‑generation capacity. The outcome is seen as a boost for the government’s broader agenda to improve infrastructure and address chronic electricity shortages.
In addition to the diplomatic and legal agenda, the Paris stop included cultural recognitions. Tributes were paid to the late Olu Jacobs, a celebrated figure in Nigerian cinema whose career spanned several decades, and to Peter, who was also remembered for his contributions to the arts.
Members of the Nigerian diaspora and officials present lauded Jacobs’s legacy, highlighting his influence on generations of actors and filmmakers. While details about Peter’s background were not elaborated in the briefing, his name was mentioned alongside Jacobs as part of the evening’s commemorations.
The Paris visit thus combined a significant legal achievement for a key infrastructure project with a moment of cultural remembrance, underscoring the multifaceted nature of President Tinubu’s foreign engagements.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>