President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after an extended stay in Europe.
The President arrived in Lagos from Paris aboard Nigerian Air Force One, with the aircraft taxiing into the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 6:22pm on Tuesday.
Journalists at the airport were barred from taking visuals of the President’s arrival, with media coverage restricted as the presidential aircraft made its way to the terminal.
President Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London before proceeding to Paris, where he held engagements with French President Emmanuel Macron, including a dinner.
His return brings to an end a four-week stay outside the country, with the President expected to participate in activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
According to the Presidency, Tinubu remained in touch with developments in Nigeria and continued to direct the affairs of government while away.
During his stay in Paris, the President held a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace. The two leaders discussed Nigeria-France relations and their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Tinubu also met Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group to discuss investments in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy. The Presidency said the discussions included plans to deepen the group’s operations in Nigeria across film, entertainment and fibre-optic infrastructure.
The President was also present in Paris when the Ogun State Government signed an agreement with DP World for the development of the Gateway Deep Sea Port and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone, a project valued at more than $7 billion.
However, the President’s prolonged absence from Nigeria generated political controversy, particularly after the Presidency announced that he had extended his stay by a few days.
The announcement came as Vice President Kashim Shettima travelled to New York to represent Tinubu at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The Presidency maintained that Tinubu’s absence from the UNGA was part of his annual leave and that Shettima was carrying the President’s full mandate at the gathering. The Federal Government also said Nigeria’s interests would be fully represented in New York.
The decision drew criticism from opposition figures. African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar questioned the constitutional implications of Tinubu’s prolonged absence, citing Section 145 of the Constitution and asking whether the President had transmitted a written declaration to the National Assembly transferring presidential functions to the Vice President.
Atiku raised the issue after the President had been out of the country for more than the initially announced 21 days. He called on the Presidency to clarify whether the required constitutional declaration had been transmitted.
The ADC also criticised the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Shettima from the country, with its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, questioning the role of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, in representing the President at some official events.
Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, also criticised the President’s extended absence during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, arguing that the situation raised questions about leadership and the constitutional arrangements for presidential authority.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress, had earlier criticised Tinubu’s decision to spend his vacation in Europe, arguing that the President should be more focused on addressing Nigeria’s economic and security challenges. Obi also questioned why the President could not take his vacation within Nigeria.
The Presidency, however, defended the President’s absence, with his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, describing Tinubu’s stay as a working vacation.
Onanuga said the President was “hale and hearty” and had continued to work while abroad, arguing that in the digital age, Tinubu did not need to be physically present in Abuja to discharge his responsibilities. He also pointed to the President’s meetings with investors in France as evidence of his official engagements during the trip.
The Presidency had initially expected Tinubu to return at the weekend but his return was eventually extended until Tuesday.
Tinubu’s return comes ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1. He is expected to attend the national premiere of MKO, a documentary on the life and political legacy of the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Lagos.
The President is also expected to hold political meetings in Lagos as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.
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