Tinubu Extends Europe Stay, Presidency Says ‘Hale, Hearty’ President To Return This Week

President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria this week after spending several weeks in Europe on what the Presidency has described as a working vacation.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this on Sunday while responding to renewed questions over the President’s prolonged absence from the country and his non-attendance at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Onanuga said Tinubu was “hale and hearty” and had continued to discharge his presidential responsibilities while away from Nigeria.

The presidential aide maintained that Tinubu was entitled to take his annual vacation and argued that modern technology had made it unnecessary for the President to be physically present in Abuja to perform his duties.

According to him, Tinubu has remained engaged with official matters, including meetings with investors in France.

Onanuga also cited the proposed $7 billion deep-sea port project at Ogun Waterside as one of the initiatives linked to Tinubu’s engagements while abroad.

The development comes amid mounting public and political attention over the President’s continued stay outside Nigeria.

Tinubu left the country on August 30 for what was initially announced as a three-week annual vacation, travelling first to London before proceeding to Paris, France.

The Presidency subsequently announced an extension of his working vacation by a few days, saying the President remained in contact with officials at home and continued to direct the affairs of government from abroad.

While Tinubu stayed away from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the international gathering.

The absence has attracted criticism from opposition figures, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who questioned the President’s prolonged stay abroad and his decision not to personally attend the UNGA.

Atiku had also raised questions about whether the constitutional procedure for transferring presidential responsibilities during an extended absence had been followed, citing Section 145 of the Constitution.

The Presidency, however, has maintained that Shettima had Tinubu’s mandate to represent Nigeria at the UNGA and that the President remained in charge of government affairs.

Onanuga also compared Tinubu’s absence from the UNGA with that of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, saying neither leader attended this year’s gathering.

He criticised Obi for questioning Tinubu’s whereabouts despite the Presidency’s earlier announcement of the President’s vacation.

Onanuga said Tinubu would return to Nigeria in time for activities marking the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1.

The presidential aide also said Tinubu is expected to attend the Lagos premiere of a film commemorating the late businessman and pro-democracy campaigner, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

According to the Presidency, the President’s return is now expected during the current week.

The latest assurance follows an earlier expectation that Tinubu would return over the weekend, which did not happen after a change in his travel plans.

The Presidency has continued to describe the President’s stay abroad as a working vacation rather than an interruption of his official duties.