Tinubu set to return to Nigeria tonight after days in Turkey

President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria on Saturday night following several days abroad in Istanbul, Turkey, a trip that drew attention due to limited public communication about his stay.

Sources familiar with the President’s travel itinerary disclosed that he is scheduled to arrive in Abuja at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Earlier in the week, the State House announced in a statement published on its official website that President Tinubu had arrived in Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Türkiye, on a state visit.

According to the statement, the President’s aircraft touched down at exactly 9:03pm local time on Monday.

He was received at the Ankara Esenboğa Airport by a Turkish government delegation led by the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin.

Also present to welcome him were the Chargé d’Affaires at the Nigerian Embassy in Türkiye, Ambassador Zayyad Abdulsalam, alongside other embassy officials.

A further statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; and Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), received the President upon his arrival at the hotel.

The statement had said President Tinubu’s visit is aimed at strengthening the existing cordial relations between Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye and exploring further areas of cooperation to advance a mutually beneficial partnership.

It had added that during the visit, he would hold discussions with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

However, on January 27, the visit was marked by President Tinubu stumbling and falling during a reception parade in Turkey.

A video obtained by SaharaReporters shows the President losing his footing while exchanging pleasantries with officials during the parade organised in his honor.

He was subsequently helped back to his feet by several men.

Tinubu was walking with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan when he stumbled.

The Nigerian Presidency had stated that Tinubu was in good health and continued to carry out his official duties in Türkiye, following an incident in which he stumbled and fell during a reception parade on his state visit.

The reassurance was given by one of Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to the President, in a post on his official X handle on Tuesday.

“President Tinubu in Great Shape as state visit proceeds smoothly,” Dare had posted on Tuesday evening.

“President Tinubu after a stately welcome ceremony in Ankara proceeded to scheduled bilateral meetings with President of Turkey and other senior government officials from both countries,” he added in post shared alongside photographs from the event.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu’s health has been a topic of public discussion in recent times.