Tinubu postpones return to nigeria after last-minute change in plans

President Bola Tinubu has postponed his return to Nigeria following a last-minute change to his travel plans, sources in the presidency have disclosed.

Tinubu was initially expected to return to the country this weekend after spending several weeks in Europe on a working vacation.

Presidential sources had earlier said the president would return to Nigeria on Sunday and arrive in Lagos, where he was expected to stay for up to a week before proceeding to Abuja.

However, the itinerary has now been revised, with Tinubu’s return likely to take place on Tuesday. The reason for the latest change was not immediately known as of Sunday morning.

Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London, where he began what the presidency described as a three-week working vacation as part of his annual leave.

After spending about a week in the United Kingdom, the president travelled to Paris, France.

During his stay in Paris, Tinubu held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.

On September 21, the presidency announced that Tinubu had extended his stay abroad by a few days and would return to Nigeria at the weekend.

The presidency said the president had remained in touch with officials at home and continued to direct government affairs while away.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima had represented Tinubu at some official functions during the president’s absence.

Shettima, however, travelled to New York on September 20 to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

The latest adjustment to Tinubu’s return schedule comes amid questions over the length of his absence from the country.

His extended stay has also sparked a constitutional debate, with some opposition figures questioning whether presidential powers should have been formally transferred to Shettima after 21 days.

Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution provides that a president proceeding on vacation shall transmit a written declaration to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after which the vice-president performs the functions of the president in an acting capacity.

On Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said there was no vacancy in Aso Rock, insisting that Tinubu remained in charge of the country’s affairs despite his absence from Nigeria.