KEY POINTS

• President Tinubu remains engaged in governance despite being abroad in Europe, with regular communication with key officials and oversight of national issues.

• Opposition leaders, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, have criticized the President for staying overseas while insecurity escalates in Nigeria, urging him to return and address the crisis.

• The President’s working visit, which includes performance evaluations and strategic planning, will conclude after the Easter holiday, with Tinubu set to resume his duties in Abuja.

Despite being away in Europe, President Bola Tinubu remains fully engaged in the governance of Nigeria, according to a statement from the Presidency on April 17, 2025.

The President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, emphasized that Tinubu’s absence is temporary and consistent with the communicated timeframe of approximately two weeks.

He also reassured Nigerians that the government continues to function smoothly in the President’s absence.

Tinubu, who left Paris for London last weekend, has maintained constant communication with key officials and has been overseeing critical national matters. This includes issuing directives to security agencies in response to escalating threats in parts of the country.

“The President’s commitment to his duties remains unwavering, and his administration continues to function effectively under his leadership,” Onanuga stated. He further confirmed that Tinubu would return to Abuja and resume his duties at Aso Villa after the Easter holiday.

Criticism over absence amid rising insecurity

However, the President’s extended stay abroad has sparked criticism from opposition leaders, especially as insecurity continues to escalate in several regions of Nigeria. Recent violence in Plateau and Benue states, which has led to numerous deaths, has fueled calls for Tinubu’s immediate return.

Channelstv reports that Labour Party presidential candidate from the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, voiced his concerns, urging the President to cut short his trip and address the growing security crisis at home.

“Mr President, domestic problems beckon,” Obi wrote on his official X handle. “I am compelled at this time in our lives as a nation to call on our retreating President’s attention to the security challenges at home, which entail that he immediately suspend his ongoing retreat in a foreign land and come home to address the overwhelming security situation across the country.” Obi highlighted the recent deaths of over 150 Nigerians due to insecurity in the past two weeks and criticized the President’s focus on his retreat while the country faced crises.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also joined the chorus of criticism. Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, questioned the appropriateness of Tinubu’s continued stay in Europe amidst the widespread violence across the country. “See Paris and die? No — see Paris and abandon your country,” Ibe said. He emphasized that Tinubu’s absence during this time of national distress was irresponsible, calling it “dereliction of duty on a catastrophic scale.” He further urged the President to return immediately to manage the escalating security issues.

Tinubu departed Nigeria for Paris on April 2, 2025, for what was described as a short working visit. The official statement from the Presidency noted that the trip would allow the President to evaluate his administration’s mid-term performance and assess key milestones. During this period, Tinubu also planned to review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning for his administration’s second anniversary.

While Tinubu’s absence continues to stir debate, the Presidency remains firm that the President is fulfilling his duties from abroad, maintaining active communication with those at home. As the country grapples with security concerns, the President’s return after the Easter holiday is expected to bring his focus back to Nigeria’s most pressing challenges.