President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ended his working vacation in Europe and departed Paris, France, for Nigeria, with his aircraft expected to arrive in Lagos on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
The Presidency confirmed the development in a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the statement, Tinubu chose Lagos as his first destination after the European trip to honour the memory of late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, widely associated with Nigeria’s June 12, 1993 presidential election.
His return comes ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary on October 1, when the President is expected to participate in official activities in Lagos, including an event connected to Abiola’s legacy.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London before travelling to Paris, where he continued the working vacation and held a series of engagements with French officials and business leaders.
Tinubu initially travelled to London on August 30, with the Presidency describing the trip as a working vacation.
After approximately one week in the United Kingdom, the President moved to Paris, where he remained for the rest of the trip. His stay was subsequently extended by several days, with the Presidency announcing on September 21 that he would return to Nigeria later than originally planned.
The extension meant Tinubu spent roughly four weeks away from Nigeria before beginning his return journey.
During his absence, the Presidency maintained that he continued to monitor developments at home and direct government affairs.
Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu at some official functions during the President’s time abroad, including international engagements in New York.
The President’s itinerary ultimately changed again, with his return shifted to Tuesday, September 29, rather than the weekend date initially announced.
Although described as a working vacation, Tinubu’s time in Paris included meetings involving diplomatic and commercial interests.
The President met French President Emmanuel Macron for a private dinner and later held discussions with French businessman Vincent Bolloré. The Bolloré Group told the Nigerian government it intended to deepen the localisation of its operations in the country across areas including film, entertainment and fibre-optic infrastructure.
Tinubu also attended the signing of agreements involving the Ogun State Government and DP World for projects centred on the Gateway Deep Sea Port and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone.
The Paris port agreement involved:
- The proposed Gateway Deep Sea Port in Ogun Waterside.
- The Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone.
- An expected initial investment of more than $7 billion across the development framework.
- Plans involving DP World, Ogun State and other Nigerian stakeholders.
The meetings gave the working vacation an economic and investment dimension beyond the President’s private travel itinerary.
The decision to return through Lagos is linked to the President’s planned participation in Independence Day activities.
Presidential and media reports indicate that Tinubu is expected to remain in Lagos through October 1 rather than immediately returning to Abuja. He is scheduled to participate in events marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.
One of the planned engagements is a premiere at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Iganmu involving a film commemorating MKO Abiola.
The choice of Lagos also places the President closer to several scheduled national events during the anniversary period.
The Presidency said Tinubu deliberately chose Lagos first to honour Abiola, whom it described as a martyr of Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
The President’s extended stay abroad attracted political attention, particularly after he did not attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Presidency had previously said Tinubu remained engaged with government affairs while abroad and dismissed concerns surrounding his prolonged absence.
On September 21, the Presidency announced that the working vacation had been extended by a few days. It also highlighted several matters Tinubu had handled remotely, including directing an investigation into the deaths of 37 people held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State over alleged illegal mining activities.
The development became a point of public discussion because the President’s original return schedule changed more than once.
With Tinubu now back in transit to Nigeria, attention will shift from the European engagements to his upcoming domestic programme.
Tinubu’s immediate schedule in Lagos is expected to centre on the October 1 Independence anniversary.
The President is expected to deliver a national broadcast as part of activities marking the 66th anniversary, while other events have been planned around the celebration.
His Lagos stay is also expected to include official engagements before his eventual return to Abuja.
The timing places the President back in the country as the government approaches several important domestic issues, including economic policy, security concerns and preparations for the final stretch of the administration’s current term.
Tinubu’s return marks the end of an extended period in which major government responsibilities continued while he operated from Europe.
The President’s itinerary during the vacation combined diplomatic contacts, investment discussions and private engagements, while Vice President Shettima and other senior officials handled some public functions on his behalf.
His arrival in Lagos now brings the focus back to his domestic schedule, beginning with the Independence anniversary.
Beyond the October 1 celebrations, the next phase of the presidency will also be watched for decisions on economic management, security and other national priorities.
For now, the immediate development is clear: Tinubu has concluded his European working vacation and is returning to Nigeria through Lagos, where he is expected to observe Independence Day before eventually heading back to Abuja.
