Tinubu departs Paris for Nigeria after 28-day working vacation

President Bola Tinubu has departed Paris, France, for Nigeria after concluding his 28-day working vacation.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s aircraft is expected to land at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos later today.

Onanuga said the President decided to fly first to Lagos to honour the memory of MKO Abiola, whom he described as the “martyr of Nigeria’s democratic struggle.”

He said Tinubu would attend the premiere of a movie celebrating Abiola, the winner of the June 1993 presidential election, on Independence Day at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos.

Tinubu departed Abuja on August 30 for the working vacation. He spent one week in London before proceeding to Paris.

While in Paris, the President attended a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and held meetings with business leaders, including Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group, whose media and digital interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.

Onanuga also said Tinubu met with Femi Oyetola, chairman of First Holdings, on Monday.

He added that during the vacation last week, the President witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the construction of a Gateway deep seaport in Ogun Waterside and the establishment of a Blue Marine Economic Zone in the area.

According to the statement, DP World plans to invest $7 billion in the seaport and economic zone.

Onanuga said Tinubu would also hold “strategic” meetings with political leaders and associates in Lagos over several days as part of preparations for the 2027 elections.

The President is expected to return to Abuja after concluding his political engagements in Lagos.