President Bola Tinubu has left Paris, France, for Lagos, ending his extended working vacation in Europe and returning to Nigeria ahead of a series of political engagements.
Tinubu is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The President left Abuja on August 30 for what the Presidency initially described as a three-week working vacation. He spent about a week in London before travelling to Paris, where he held meetings with political and business figures.
The Presidency said Tinubu chose to return through Lagos to honour the memory of the late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and a major figure in Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
As part of the Independence Day programme on October 1, Tinubu is expected to attend the premiere of a film celebrating Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos.
The President is also scheduled to hold meetings with political leaders and associates during his stay in Lagos as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
“While in Lagos, President Tinubu will also hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates over several days in preparation for the 2027 elections,” Onanuga said.
Tinubu’s stay in Paris included a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and meetings with prominent business figures, including Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group, whose interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
On Monday, the President also met with billionaire businessman and Chairman of First Holdings, Femi Otedola, at a private dinner in Paris.
Otedola disclosed the meeting on Tuesday in a post on X, accompanied by a photograph of himself and Tinubu.
The businessman expressed support for the President’s economic reforms, citing developments including the inclusion of leading Nigerian companies in the FTSE Russell Frontier 50 Index, gains recorded on the Nigerian Exchange, increased foreign direct investment and what he described as improved investor confidence.
Otedola also highlighted what he called a more unified foreign exchange market and said Nigeria’s foreign reserves were “standing strong at about $55 billion.”
“I remain proud of you, Mr. President!” he wrote.
Tinubu’s return comes amid public attention over his prolonged stay abroad and his absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the UN gathering and delivered the country’s national statement.
The Presidency had initially announced that Tinubu would return after his working vacation, but on September 21 said the trip had been extended by “a few days.” On September 27, Onanuga confirmed that the President would return on Tuesday, September 29, landing in Lagos ahead of the October 1 Independence Day events.
Tinubu’s extended stay and absence from the UNGA drew criticism from opposition groups and some Nigerians. A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party criticised the decision, while the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council called for an explanation of the President’s continued absence.
The Presidency, however, maintained that Tinubu’s absence from the UN gathering would not diminish Nigeria’s diplomatic standing or its role in African affairs.
Before leaving France, Tinubu also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the development of a Gateway deep seaport in Ogun Waterside and a Blue Marine Economic Zone.
The Presidency said DP World plans to invest $7bn in the project.
Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja after completing his political engagements in Lagos.
