President Bola Tinubu will return to Nigeria and resume official duties at the Presidential Villa immediately after the Easter holidays, according to the Presidency, putting to rest concerns about a leadership vacuum during his two-week working visit to Europe.
In a statement released on Thursday by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency emphasized that the president has remained actively involved in governance while abroad, particularly on national security matters.
Tinubu departed Abuja for Paris on April 2 for a “strategic working visit” aimed at evaluating the administration’s midterm performance and consulting stakeholders ahead of his second year in office. He later continued to London, maintaining constant communication with cabinet members, security chiefs, and other top officials throughout his trip.
Security Directives Amid Rising Tensions
As insecurity worsened in parts of the country, the president reportedly issued targeted instructions to tackle violence and kidnappings in Plateau, Benue, and Kaduna states. The Presidency highlighted Tinubu’s remote coordination of national efforts to maintain stability, despite political critics questioning his absence.
Presidency Dismisses Opposition Pressure
Opposition figures, including Labour Party’s Peter Obi and PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, called for Tinubu’s immediate return amid the security crisis. But the Presidency reassured Nigerians that “governance proceeds seamlessly,” insisting that the president’s physical absence did not translate to administrative paralysis.
Tinubu is expected to resume at the Presidential Villa next week, in line with the two-week timeframe initially communicated by his office.
