President Tinubu Departs France for Nigeria, Presidency Confirms

By Obinna Ejianya

ABUJA (9News Nigeria) President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ended his extended working vacation in Europe and departed Paris, France, for Nigeria, the Presidency announced on Tuesday.

The President is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos later this evening, bringing to an end a trip that began on August 30 and had recently generated questions over his prolonged absence from the country.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed Tinubu’s departure in a statement issued on September 29, 2026.

According to the Presidency, Tinubu will arrive in Lagos rather than Abuja as part of plans to honour the memory of the late Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election and a prominent symbol of Nigeria’s democratic struggle.

The President is scheduled to attend the premiere of a movie honouring Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, on Independence Day.

Tinubu will also remain in Lagos for several days, during which he is expected to hold what the Presidency described as strategic meetings with political leaders and associates in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

The President left Abuja on August 30 for what the Presidency initially announced as a working vacation. He spent about one week in London before travelling to Paris, France.

During his stay in Paris, Tinubu attended a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and held meetings with business leaders, including Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group.

He also met with First HoldCo Chairman Femi Otedola on Monday.

According to the Presidency, Tinubu last week witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and global ports and logistics company DP World for the development of the Gateway Deep Seaport in Ogun Waterside and a Blue Marine Economic Zone.

DP World is expected to invest about $7 billion in the proposed seaport and economic zone, according to the statement.

Tinubu’s return comes amid growing public and political attention over the length of his stay outside Nigeria.

On Monday night, African Action Congress presidential candidate and political activist Omoyele Sowore, appearing on ARISE TV’s Prime Time programme monitored by 9News Nigeria, alleged that Tinubu was hospitalised in France and questioned the circumstances surrounding his prolonged stay abroad.

Sowore accused the Presidency of not being transparent about the President’s whereabouts and health, while raising questions about the constitutional provisions governing presidential functions during an extended absence.

The hospitalisation claim was not independently verified by 9News Nigeria, and the Presidency had maintained that Tinubu was “hale and hearty” and continued to attend to state matters while abroad.

The latest State House statement announcing Tinubu’s departure from Paris did not address Sowore’s hospitalisation allegation. It instead reiterated that the President had been on a working vacation and highlighted the meetings and engagements he undertook during his stay in France.

The announcement of Tinubu’s departure came less than a day after Sowore’s television appearance and amid increasing public attention over when the President would return to the country.

According to the Presidency, Tinubu will remain in Lagos for his scheduled engagements before returning to Abuja.