SUNTV Global Channel | January 31, 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to arrive in Abuja on Saturday night, returning to Nigeria from Istanbul, Türkiye, after several days out of the country marked by limited official communication from the Presidency.
SaharaReporters gathered that the President’s aircraft is scheduled to touch down in the Federal Capital Territory at about 8:30pm, bringing an end to a foreign trip that has drawn intense public attention, particularly amid growing concerns over his health.
The State House had earlier announced, in a statement released on Monday, that President Tinubu arrived in Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Türkiye, at exactly 9:03pm local time for a state visit. He was received at the Ankara Esenboğa Airport by a Turkish government delegation led by the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin.
Also present at the airport were Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Türkiye, Ambassador Zayyad Abdulsalam, alongside other officials of the Nigerian Embassy.
Another statement, signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that senior members of Tinubu’s cabinet—including the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; and Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd)—received him upon arrival at his hotel.
According to the Presidency, the visit was aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and Türkiye, as well as exploring new areas of cooperation. The statement added that President Tinubu was scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
However, the trip took a dramatic turn on January 27 after President Tinubu stumbled and fell during a ceremonial reception parade in Ankara. A video obtained by SaharaReporters showed the President momentarily losing his footing while walking alongside President Erdoğan and greeting Turkish officials.
The President was quickly assisted back to his feet by aides and security personnel, but the incident sparked widespread reactions and renewed debate over his physical fitness.
In response, the Presidency moved swiftly to downplay the incident. Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to the President, stated on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle that Tinubu was in good health and continued with his official engagements.
“President Tinubu in great shape as state visit proceeds smoothly,” Dare wrote, adding that the President went on to attend scheduled bilateral meetings with Turkish leaders after the reception ceremony.
Despite these assurances, President Tinubu’s health has remained a subject of sustained public discussion, especially given the prolonged silence surrounding aspects of his trip.
With his return to Nigeria now imminent, attention is expected to shift to the Presidency for further clarification on the visit and to address lingering public concerns.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor developments and bring updates as they unfold.
