President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja after spending six days in Lagos following his return from a working vacation in Europe and activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.
Tinubu arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday evening, October 5, where he was received by senior government officials, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. His return ended a Lagos stay that included his October 1 national broadcast, the premiere of a documentary on MKO Abiola and a visit to the Oba of Lagos.
The President had arrived in Lagos on September 29 after spending about four weeks in Europe on what the Presidency described as a working vacation. Official information showed that he had spent time in London and Paris before returning to Nigeria. FMINO
His movement back to Abuja means presidential activities are expected to resume from the federal capital following a period in which Lagos served as the centre of several of his official engagements.
Tinubu marks Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary in Lagos
Tinubu’s stay in Lagos coincided with Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary on October 1.
In his national broadcast, themed “From Reform to Prosperity,” the President said Nigeria was moving from a period of difficult economic reforms towards what he described as a new phase of prosperity.
He acknowledged that Nigerians had endured economic and security difficulties over the years, while arguing that his administration’s reforms were intended to address long-standing structural problems in the economy.
The address was Tinubu’s fourth Independence Day broadcast since he became President in May 2023. It formed part of a relatively low-key programme organised by the Federal Government for the anniversary.
The government had earlier announced that Tinubu would mark the anniversary in Lagos before returning to Abuja after the celebrations and other official engagements.
MKO Abiola documentary among Lagos engagements
After delivering the Independence Day address, Tinubu attended the national premiere of MKO, a documentary on the life and political struggle of the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
The event was held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos.
Abiola was widely regarded as the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, a development that became a major turning point in Nigeria’s struggle against military rule.
The documentary examines his political journey and the wider June 12 pro-democracy movement. Tinubu also visited the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, at the Iga Iduganran Palace on Lagos Island on Sunday before departing for Abuja the following day.
President had spent weeks in Europe
Before arriving in Lagos, Tinubu had been outside Nigeria for several weeks.
The Presidency said he left Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin a working vacation and later travelled to Paris.
While in France, he met French President Emmanuel Macron as well as businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose business interests include media companies such as Canal+ and MultiChoice.
The Presidency said Tinubu remained involved in government business during the trip, while Vice President Kashim Shettima and other senior officials represented him at some official functions.
His return to Nigeria on September 29 was therefore both the end of the European trip and the beginning of his Independence anniversary engagements in Lagos.
What Tinubu’s return to Abuja means
The President’s return to Abuja brings him back to the main seat of the Federal Government after almost five weeks away from the capital, including his European trip and six days in Lagos.
There was no indication from the Presidency that the Lagos stay represented any change in the location of presidential operations.
Instead, the visit had been planned around Independence Day activities and other official engagements.
For readers, the key point is that Tinubu has now completed those engagements and returned to Abuja, where regular presidential meetings and federal government activities are expected to continue.
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