President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, after spending about four weeks in Europe.
The President departed Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin his annual leave, which the Presidency later described as a working vacation.
After spending about a week in the United Kingdom, Tinubu travelled to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
His return schedule was adjusted after the Presidency initially announced that he would return during the weekend of September 26 and 27.
Tinubu is expected to arrive in Lagos, where he will participate in activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1.
The President is also expected to deliver a national broadcast as part of the anniversary activities before returning to Abuja for official engagements.
During his absence, Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, while Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, represented the President at selected official functions.
The Presidency had maintained that Tinubu continued to receive briefings and issue directives on government matters while abroad.
His extended stay attracted criticism from opposition politicians, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who questioned the President’s absence from the UN General Assembly.
The return also comes amid ongoing investigations into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.
Tinubu had directed a comprehensive investigation into the incident, following which the Federal Government announced the establishment of an independent investigative committee.
