President Bola Tinubu has departed Paris, France, for Nigeria after concluding his working vacation in Europe.
His Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the President’s aircraft is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, later in the evening.
The Presidency said President Tinubu chose to return through Lagos to honour the memory of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, whom it described as a martyr of Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
Tinubu is expected to attend the premiere of a film celebrating Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day.
The President is also scheduled to hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates in Lagos as part of preparations for the 2027 elections before returning to Abuja.
President Tinubu left Abuja on August 30 for a working vacation, spending about a week in London before travelling to Paris.
During his stay in France, he held a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and met business leaders, including Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group.
He also met First HoldCo Plc Chairman, Femi Otedola, on Monday.
Last week, President Tinubu witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the development of the Gateway Deep Seaport in Ogun Waterside and a Blue Marine Economic Zone, a project expected to attract $7 billion in investment.
UNGA Absence Draws Criticism
President Tinubu’s prolonged stay in Europe attracted criticism, particularly following his absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the UNGA and delivered the country’s national statement on behalf of the President.
The Presidency defended the arrangement, saying Shettima had President Tinubu’s mandate to represent Nigeria at the global gathering.
The President’s working vacation had earlier been extended by a few days after the Presidency initially indicated that he would return to Nigeria at the weekend.
Opposition parties also criticised the President’s continued stay abroad.
The Peoples Democratic Party said Tinubu could have proceeded to New York to represent Nigeria at the UNGA, while the African Democratic Congress questioned his absence and raised issues concerning the constitutional provisions on presidential powers when the President is outside the country.
ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar also questioned President Tinubu’s prolonged absence from Nigeria, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, raised questions over the President’s absence from the UNGA.
The Presidency, however, maintained that President Tinubu’s trip was a working vacation and that he continued to attend to matters of national interest while abroad. On Sunday, Onanuga said the President was “hale and hearty” and continued to discharge his official responsibilities from Europe.