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The Presidency has assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu is “hale and hearty” and will return to Nigeria this week after spending several weeks abroad on what it described as a working vacation.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement posted on his official X handle on Sunday.
Onanuga said Tinubu would return to Nigeria in time to participate in activities marking the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
He added that the President had remained engaged in official activities during his vacation, including meetings with investors in France.
According to the presidential aide, Tinubu had also recently facilitated discussions around a proposed $7 billion deep-sea port project at Ogun Waterside, an initiative of the Ogun State Government.
“Nigeria’s President is hale and hearty. He has been on a working vacation, which he is perfectly entitled to.
“In this digital age, he does not need to be physically present in Abuja to do the work for which he was elected in 2023,” Onanuga said.
Onanuga also defended the President’s decision not to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying Tinubu had delegated Nigeria’s representation to Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Shettima led Nigeria’s delegation to the UN General Assembly, while Tinubu remained abroad. The Presidency had earlier said the Vice-President was representing the President at the gathering.
The presidential aide noted that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi were also absent from the UN General Assembly, arguing that their absence had not generated similar public debate.
Onanuga’s statement followed questions and criticism from some opposition figures over Tinubu’s prolonged absence from Nigeria and his non-attendance at the UN General Assembly.
He specifically criticised former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate Peter Obi over questions concerning the President’s whereabouts, maintaining that the Presidency had publicly communicated Tinubu’s travel plans.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London, where the Presidency initially said he would spend a three-week working vacation. After about a week in the United Kingdom, he travelled to Paris, France, for further engagements.
On September 21, the Presidency announced that Tinubu had extended his working vacation by a few days and was expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.
The latest statement indicates that the President’s return is now expected during the current week. Onanuga said Tinubu would participate in activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and attend the Lagos premiere of a film commemorating the late democracy activist and businessman, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
The Presidency has maintained that Tinubu has remained in contact with officials at home and continued to direct government affairs while abroad.
President Bola Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30, 2026, for what the Presidency initially described as a three-week working vacation.
He travelled first to London and later to Paris, where he held engagements including meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The Presidency announced on September 21 that Tinubu had extended his stay abroad by a few days.
His prolonged absence, particularly his decision not to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in person, has generated questions from some opposition politicians and commentators.
The Presidency has maintained that the President remained in touch with officials in Nigeria and continued to direct government affairs while away, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima representing him at the UN General Assembly.
On Sunday, September 27, Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said Tinubu was “hale and hearty” and would return to Nigeria during the week for the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary activities.
The statement also said he would attend a Lagos premiere commemorating the late MKO Abiola.
