RismadarVoice Reporters
September 27, 2026
President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, after spending about four weeks on a working vacation in Europe.
The President is expected to arrive in Lagos, where he will participate in activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1 before returning to Abuja at the weekend.
Presidency sources said Tinubu would arrive through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, where he is expected to be received by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other officials.
Tinubu is expected to remain in Lagos through Thursday, October 1, when he will deliver a national broadcast to Nigerians as part of activities commemorating the country’s independence.
The Federal Government has also scheduled an Independence Anniversary public lecture for September 30.
Tinubu’s planned stay in Lagos would make it the second consecutive year he has marked the October 1 anniversary in the commercial capital.
The President also spent the 2025 Independence Anniversary in Lagos, when the Federal Government cancelled the traditional Independence Day parade.
Tinubu’s return will conclude an extended working vacation that began on August 30, when he departed Abuja for London.
The Presidency initially announced a three-week annual leave, with the United Kingdom as the President’s first destination.
After spending about a week in London, Tinubu travelled to Paris, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The Presidency subsequently announced on September 21 that Tinubu would extend his stay in Europe by a few days.
Despite being outside Nigeria, the President continued receiving official briefings and issuing directives on national matters.
Among the major developments during his absence was his directive for a comprehensive investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State.
The Federal Government subsequently constituted a 10-member independent investigative committee, while affected NSCDC officials were suspended pending the outcome of investigations.
Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu at several engagements during the President’s absence, including Nigeria’s participation at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Shettima travelled to the United States on September 20 to lead Nigeria’s delegation and deliver the country’s national statement on behalf of the President.
Tinubu’s expected return comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Attention will also turn to the President’s Independence Day address and other official engagements expected during his stay in Lagos before his return to Abuja.
