President Bola Tinubu touched down at the Presidential Wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, at 6:22 p.m. on Tuesday following a four-week European working trip. He declared himself “healthy, sound, and ready to go” upon arrival while dismissing health concerns raised during his extended stay abroad.
The President had left Abuja on 30th August, dividing his time between London and Paris. His arrival in Lagos puts an end to public anxiety surrounding his prolonged absence and decisions regarding the delegation of authority to Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Addressing reporters at the airport, President Tinubu addressed rumors about his physical condition directly, asserting there was nothing wrong with him. “Ready to kick, ready to walk. There’s nothing wrong. Rumour will always be emanating from politics, but the facts remain: I’m here. Healthy, sound, and ready to go,” he said.
A cultural troupe welcomed the President alongside high-ranking dignitaries, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and Special Adviser on Political Affairs Ibrahim Masari. The arrival was also confirmed online by Olusegun Dada, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, who shared a video on X of senior officials receiving the Nigerian leader.
According to a statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, the President opted to land in Lagos first to pay tribute to the late Chief MKO Abiola, the victor of the June 1993 presidential election and a seminal figure in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement. President Tinubu is slated to attend a film premiere in Abiola’s honour at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, on Independence Day, 1st October.
The Presidency noted that the Lagos stay will also involve strategic sessions with political associates, as Onanuga stated: “While in Lagos, President Tinubu will also hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates over several days in preparation for the 2027 elections.”
During his stay in Europe, the President engaged in several official and diplomatic activities. He dined privately with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and held a meeting on Monday evening with First Holdings Chairman Femi Otedola. He also met prominent corporate figures, such as Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group—which holds key stakes in Universal Music Group, Canal+, and MultiChoice.
Furthermore, President Tinubu witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between DP World and the Ogun State Government. Under the agreement, the global logistics giant intends to construct a Gateway deep seaport in Ogun Waterside and establish a Blue Marine Economic Zone, a project involving a planned investment of 7 billion US dollars (₦11.5 trillion).