PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu says he enjoyed his four-week stay in Europe and is back in Nigeria “healthy, sound, and ready to go.”
News Point Nigeria reports that Tinubu spoke on Tuesday as he returned to Lagos from Paris, France, where he had spent the final part of his extended European vacation. The President arrived at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 6:22pm aboard Nigerian Air Force One.
Asked how the vacation was, the President said, “I enjoyed myself. Fantastic.”
Tinubu was also asked about concerns raised by some Nigerians, including some of his well-wishers, towards the end of his stay in Europe over his health.
“Ready to kick, ready to walk. There’s nothing wrong,” he said.
The President added, “Rumour will always be emanating from politics, but the facts remain, I’m here. Healthy, sound, and ready to go.”
Tinubu departed Abuja on August 30 for what the Presidency initially described as a three-week annual vacation, with London as his first destination. The Presidency later announced that the working vacation had been extended by a few days.
After spending about a week in London, he proceeded to Paris, where the vacation included a number of official engagements.
In France, Tinubu held a private dinner with President Emmanuel Macron and met business leaders, including Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group. He also met the Chairman of First HoldCo Plc, Femi Otedola.
The President also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the development of a Gateway Deep Sea Port in Ogun Waterside and a Blue Marine Economic Zone, with the project expected to attract $7 billion in investment.
The Presidency subsequently announced that Tinubu had extended his working vacation by a few days, with the President eventually returning to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, rather than the weekend initially announced.
His prolonged stay abroad also generated political debate, particularly after he did not attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu at the gathering, where he delivered Nigeria’s national statement and participated in high-level engagements.
The Federal Government said Tinubu’s decision to ask Shettima to lead the Nigerian delegation was part of his annual leave and maintained that the Vice President was carrying the President’s full mandate.
The development, however, drew criticism from opposition figures. African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar questioned the constitutional implications of Tinubu’s prolonged absence, particularly after the initial 21-day period, and raised questions about Section 145 of the Constitution and the transfer of presidential functions.
The Presidency defended the President’s absence, with his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, describing the trip as a working vacation and saying Tinubu remained in touch with developments at home and continued to direct the affairs of government.
Onanuga also said the President was “hale and hearty” and argued that Tinubu did not need to be physically present in Abuja to discharge his responsibilities in the digital age.
Tinubu’s return to Nigeria brings his four-week European stay to an end.
He arrived at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 6:22pm aboard Nigerian Air Force One. Journalists at the airport were barred from taking visuals of his arrival.
The President is expected to participate in activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, including the premiere of a film honouring the late MKO Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Lagos on October 1.
He is also expected to hold strategic meetings in Lagos before returning to Abuja.