President Tinubu Heads Back to Nigeria From Paris
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed Paris, France, for Nigeria after ending his working vacation in Europe, with his aircraft expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos later on Tuesday.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu will first arrive in Lagos, where he is expected to attend a number of engagements before returning to Abuja.
The Presidency said the President chose to return through Lagos partly to honour the memory of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, widely known as MKO Abiola, whose political legacy remains closely associated with Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
Tinubu is expected to attend the premiere of a movie commemorating Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, as part of activities around Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary on October 1.
The President is also expected to hold meetings with political leaders and associates in Lagos in the coming days as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
After completing his political engagements in Lagos, Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja.
The President left Abuja on August 30 for a working vacation in Europe. He initially travelled to London, where he spent about a week before proceeding to Paris, France. The Presidency later announced that his stay outside Nigeria had been extended by a few days.
During his time in Paris, Tinubu held several engagements with political and business figures. He met French President Emmanuel Macron at a private dinner and also held discussions with Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group.
The presidency said Tinubu and Bolloré discussed expanded investment in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy. The business group has interests in areas including Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
The President also met businessman Femi Otedola, Chairman of First Holdings, as part of his engagements while in France.
Another major development during the President’s stay in Europe was his involvement in discussions surrounding a proposed deep seaport and blue economy project in Ogun State. The Ogun State Government and DP World signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of a Gateway deep seaport in Ogun Waterside and the creation of a Blue Marine Economic Zone.
The proposed project is expected to attract an investment of about $7 billion, according to the Presidency.
Tinubu’s return to Nigeria comes shortly after the African Action Congress filed a lawsuit challenging aspects of his prolonged absence from the country.
The AAC approached the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, September 28, asking the court to determine whether Tinubu was required to transmit a written declaration to the National Assembly before proceeding on his extended vacation outside Nigeria. The case, filed by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Inibehe Effiong, also challenges the National Assembly’s failure to pass a resolution authorising Vice President Kashim Shettima to perform the functions of Acting President.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2353/2026, names Tinubu, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and the National Assembly as defendants.
The AAC is relying on Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution in making its case. It wants the court to declare that the President’s alleged failure to transmit the required written declaration was unlawful and unconstitutional.
The party is also challenging what it described as the failure of the National Assembly to take steps to authorise Shettima to act as President after Tinubu’s absence exceeded 21 days. The case has therefore brought renewed attention to the constitutional provisions governing presidential absence from Nigeria.
Tinubu’s return also follows Shettima’s own return to Nigeria after representing the President at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Vice President had travelled to the United States on September 20 on Tinubu’s mandate and delivered Nigeria’s national statement at the UN gathering. He also participated in engagements on development financing, climate support, global economic cooperation, education financing and reforms to the United Nations Security Council.
The Presidency has consistently maintained that Tinubu remained in charge of government throughout his working vacation.
When concerns were raised over the President’s prolonged absence, Onanuga said Tinubu was “hale and hearty” and argued that modern communication technology allowed the President to continue performing his responsibilities without being physically present in Abuja.
“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.
