He Is Hale and Hearty — Presidency Speaks on Tinubu’s Return

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

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a post on X on Sunday, assuring Nigerians that Tinubu is “hale and hearty.”

Onanuga said the President had continued to discharge his official responsibilities remotely despite his absence from Abuja, including holding meetings with investors in France.

According to him, Tinubu also recently facilitated a $7 billion deep-sea port project in Ogun Waterside, an initiative of the Ogun State Government.

Onanuga defended Tinubu’s decision to remain outside the country during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, noting that the presidents of South Africa and Egypt, Cyril Ramaphosa and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, were also absent from the gathering.

He said Tinubu had earlier announced his annual vacation and delegated Nigeria’s representation at the UNGA to Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

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Onanuga also criticised Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), for questioning Tinubu’s whereabouts despite the President’s publicly announced vacation.

He said Tinubu is expected back in Nigeria in time for the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

The President is also expected to attend the Lagos premiere of a movie about the late Moshood Abiola, whom Onanuga described as a key figure in Nigeria’s democratic history.

Tinubu’s return had earlier been uncertain following a last-minute change to his travel plans.

He had initially been expected to return to Nigeria on Sunday after spending weeks in Europe, with presidential sources earlier indicating that he would arrive in Lagos and remain there for up to a week before proceeding to Abuja.

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