President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to return to Nigeria today, Monday, following an extended stay overseas that sparked public debate and widespread speculation.
This confirmation was made in a brief statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, via a Facebook post on Monday morning. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will return home today,” Onanuga stated.
President Tinubu initially departed Abuja for Paris, France, on April 2, for what the presidency described as a private retreat aimed at reviewing the administration’s midterm performance and assessing key milestones.
Though the visit was originally scheduled to last two weeks, Tinubu extended his stay, prompting public concern over his whereabouts and the nature of the prolonged trip.
In response to growing inquiries on social media, Onanuga addressed the nation last Thursday, assuring Nigerians that the president remained “fully engaged” in governance despite being abroad. Over the weekend, he also confirmed that Tinubu had relocated from Paris to London and was in “constant communication with key government officials.”
This trip marks President Tinubu’s second visit to France in under two months and adds to the over 30 foreign trips he has made since assuming office on May 29, 2023.
The frequency of his travels continues to draw attention amid ongoing economic and security challenges at home. The presidency, however, maintains that all trips have been in the interest of national development.
