President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to return to Nigeria today, following a two-week working visit to France, according to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
It comes amid growing public concern over the president’s prolonged absence during a period marked by rising insecurity in parts of the country.
The president departed Abuja for Paris on April 2, 2025, to appraise his administration’s mid-term performance, assess key milestones, and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration’s second anniversary. During his time in Europe, Tinubu also travelled from Paris to London, maintaining constant communication with key government officials and issuing directives to security chiefs to address emerging threats in Nigeria’s North-East and North-Central regions.
“President Tinubu remains fully engaged in Nigeria’s governance even though he is away in Europe,” Onanuga stated, emphasising that the president’s commitment to his duties has remained unwavering. “His return to Abuja and the resumption of duties at Aso Villa will follow the conclusion of the Easter holiday,” he added, confirming that Tinubu’s homecoming is expected today, coinciding with the end of the Easter holidays declared by the government.
The president’s trip, described as a “working visit,” has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders and civil society organisations, who argue that Tinubu’s absence has left a leadership vacuum at a time when Nigeria is grappling with escalating violence.
Reports of deadly attacks in Plateau and Benue states, including an April 2 incident in Bokkos, Plateau State, where at least 40 people were killed and over 1,000 displaced, have fueled calls for the president’s immediate return.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi have both urged Tinubu to prioritise the nation’s security challenges by cutting short his trip.
Despite the backlash, the presidency has maintained that governance has proceeded without interruption.
