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President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria today after spending nearly two weeks abroad, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has confirmed.
In a brief post shared on X on Monday, Onanuga wrote, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will return home today.”
Earlier, the Presidency had assured Nigerians that the President remained fully engaged with national governance despite his stay overseas.
In a statement released last Thursday, Onanuga said, “The President left Paris for London at the weekend and has maintained constant communication with key government officials, overseeing critical national matters, including directives to security chiefs to address emerging threats in some parts of the country.”
He emphasised that Tinubu’s absence was temporary and “in line with the communicated timeframe of approximately two weeks,” with his return scheduled for April 21, after the Easter holidays.
“The President’s commitment to his duties remains unwavering, and his administration continues to function effectively under his leadership.
“We appreciate the public’s concern and assure all Nigerians that governance proceeds without interruption,” the statement added.
Tinubu had departed for Paris on April 2, 2025, for what the Presidency described as a two-week working visit.
According to Onanuga, the purpose was to “appraise his administration’s mid-term performance and assess key milestones.”
However, his prolonged stay abroad sparked criticism from opposition leaders amid growing insecurity in parts of the country, particularly in Plateau and Benue states.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi had both questioned the President’s absence in light of the escalating violence.
Atiku, through his media aide Paul Ibe, criticised Tinubu’s continued stay abroad, describing it as “irresponsibility on the part of the APC-led government.”
“Tinubu is away while Nigeria burns—daily killings, attacks, and loss of territories. This is deeply troubling,” Atiku stated. “Nigerians are yearning for real leadership—someone who’s present and actively engaged.”
Meanwhile, Obi also urged Tinubu to return immediately to address the worsening security crisis.
“In the two weeks you have been away, over 150 Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity,” he said, citing attacks in Plateau, Zamfara, Borno, and Benue.
“I urge Mr President to quickly suspend whatever he is doing in France and rush home to take responsibility by addressing these disturbing issues,” Obi added.
Responding to the criticisms, APC’s Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed claims of a leadership vacuum.
“Simply because the President is out of the country does not mean he is not piloting the affairs of the nation,” he said.
Ibrahim noted that the President had issued directives to the security agencies and that the Vice President continued to represent him effectively.
“You cannot say that a country where the Vice President is actively representing the President is in a vacuum.
“A country with that level of leadership engagement is not leaderless,” he said.
