PARIS — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in Paris, France, on Sunday for the second phase of his three-week annual leave in Europe, after spending the initial period of the holiday in London, United Kingdom.
The Nigerian leader was received on arrival by the country’s Ambassador to France, Ayodele Oke (also referred to in some reports as Emmanuel Ayodele Oke).
Visuals and video footage shared by officials and presidential videographer Sunday Moses showed Tinubu greeting officials upon landing before proceeding from the airport.
Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday, August 30, 2026, to begin the leave. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga announced the trip in a statement titled “President Tinubu Begins Three-Week Leave.” The statement indicated that London would be the first stop and that the President is expected to return to Abuja after the vacation to join preparations and the campaign for the January 2027 general election.
Presidency officials have described the period as a well-deserved “working vacation” or annual leave that would allow Tinubu to rest and “refuel” after months of addressing security and economic challenges, ahead of the intensifying political calendar.
Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication Sunday Dare noted at the time of departure that the break was important given the demands of office and the approaching campaign period.
The move to Paris comes roughly two weeks into the three-week leave. Paris has long been one of Tinubu’s most frequent foreign destinations since he assumed office in May 2023.
Reports indicate he has visited the French capital multiple times—on official, working, and private trips—accumulating significant days there as part of broader international engagements that have taken him to dozens of countries.
The timing of the leave follows the All Progressives Congress (APC) release of its Presidential Campaign Council list, which named Tinubu as chairman and Vice President Kashim Shettima as vice chairman. Upon his return, the President is expected to resume official duties and engage more fully in election-related activities.
No further details on the President’s specific itinerary or engagements while in France have been publicly released by the Presidency as of Sunday. The vacation is scheduled to conclude in the coming days, after which Tinubu is due back in Nigeria.
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