By David Oluwatosin
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, after spending about four weeks on a working vacation in Europe.
The President is expected to arrive through Lagos, where he will spend the Independence Day period before returning to Abuja next weekend.
The development marks the end of an extended working vacation that began on August 30, when Tinubu departed Abuja for London as part of his annual leave. The Presidency initially announced a three-week vacation before confirming on September 21 that the President would extend his stay by a few days.
Upon his return, Tinubu is expected to proceed with official engagements in Lagos ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1.
He is expected to be received at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The President is expected to remain in Lagos through Thursday, October 1, when he will deliver a national broadcast as part of activities marking the anniversary.
His decision to spend the Independence period in Lagos would make it the second consecutive year he has observed the anniversary in the commercial capital.
The Federal Government has also scheduled other activities around the anniversary, including a public lecture on September 30.
Tinubu departed Abuja on August 30 for London, the first stop of his working vacation.
After spending about a week in London, he travelled to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The Presidency said Tinubu’s September 18 meeting with Bolloré focused on expanded investment in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy, with discussions around film, entertainment and fibre-optic infrastructure.
The Presidency had initially expected the President to return after three weeks but announced on September 21 that his stay had been extended by a few days.
Despite being outside the country, Tinubu continued to receive briefings and issue directives on national matters.
One of the major developments during the period was his directive for an independent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who were being held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State.
The Presidency said the President ordered the investigation while on vacation, alongside other directives concerning national affairs.
During Tinubu’s absence, Vice President Kashim Shettima represented him at several official engagements.
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Shettima travelled to New York on September 20 to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he delivered Nigeria’s national statement on behalf of the President.
With the Vice President also outside the country, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, continued to represent the President at selected official functions, in line with arrangements announced by the Presidency.
The President’s return also comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has been leading consultations with traditional rulers and other stakeholders in different parts of the country.
The Presidency had itself linked Tinubu’s return from the working vacation to preparations for the political season, stating when he departed on August 30 that he was expected to return home and join activities ahead of the January 2027 election.
With Tinubu expected back in Lagos on Tuesday, attention will now shift to his Independence Day broadcast, his engagements in the commercial capital and the resumption of presidential activities from Abuja next weekend.
The October 1 address is expected to provide an opportunity for the President to speak to Nigerians on the state of the nation and the administration’s priorities as the country enters another year of independence.
