ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ended his working vacation in Europe and departed Paris, France, for Nigeria, with his aircraft expected to land at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos later on Tuesday.
According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President has already left Paris on the homeward journey. He chose to return first to Lagos to honour the memory of Chief MKO Abiola, described by the Presidency as a martyr of Nigeria’s democratic struggle and the winner of the June 1993 presidential election.
On Independence Day, October 1, Tinubu is scheduled to attend the premiere of a movie honouring Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos. While in the commercial capital, the President will also hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates over several days in preparation for the 2027 elections. He is expected to return to Abuja after concluding those engagements.
Tinubu left Abuja on August 30 for the working vacation. He spent one week in London before proceeding to Paris. During his stay in the French capital, he attended a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and met business leaders, including Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group, whose interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group. On Monday, he also met with Chairman of First Holdings, Femi Otedola.
Last week, the President 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. DP World, a major global ports and logistics operator, plans to invest about $7 billion in the projects.
The return marks the end of Tinubu’s extended working vacation, which combined private time with diplomatic and investment-related engagements. His prolonged absence had drawn some criticism from opposition figures questioning the length of the trip, though the Presidency maintained it was a working leave that included important bilateral and business discussions.
Tinubu’s arrival in Lagos is expected later this evening, after which he will begin a series of political and commemorative activities ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.
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