President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after spending four weeks in Europe, declaring that he is “healthy, sound, and ready to go” following concerns raised over his prolonged absence from the country.
The President spoke on Tuesday after arriving in Lagos from Paris, France, where he spent the final part of his extended European vacation.
Asked about his experience abroad, Tinubu said he enjoyed the trip, describing it as “fantastic” while dismissing speculation about his health.
“Ready to kick, ready to walk. There’s nothing wrong,” he said.
He added that rumours were inevitable in politics but insisted that he had returned in good health and was prepared to resume his duties.
Tinubu departed Abuja on August 30 for what the Presidency initially announced as a three-week annual vacation, with London as his first destination before proceeding to Paris.
His stay in France included several official engagements, including a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and meetings with business leaders such as Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group and Femi Otedola, Chairman of First HoldCo Plc.
The President also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the proposed development of a Gateway Deep Sea Port in Ogun Waterside and a Blue Marine Economic Zone, with the project expected to attract $7 billion in investment.
The Presidency later announced an extension of Tinubu’s working vacation, delaying his return until September 29.
His prolonged stay abroad attracted political debate, particularly after he missed the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria, delivered the country’s national statement and participated in high-level engagements.
The Federal Government maintained that Tinubu’s absence was part of his annual leave and that Shettima had the President’s full mandate to lead the Nigerian delegation.
However, opposition figures, including African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, questioned the constitutional implications of the President’s extended absence and raised concerns about Section 145 of the Constitution and the transfer of presidential functions.
The Presidency defended Tinubu’s absence, with Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga describing the trip as a working vacation and insisting that the President remained in contact with developments at home and continued directing government affairs.
Tinubu arrived at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at approximately 6:22pm aboard Nigerian Air Force One. Journalists at the airport were reportedly prevented from recording visuals of his arrival.
The President is expected to participate in activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1, including the premiere of a film honouring the late Chief Moshood Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Lagos.
