Deborah Akinyosoye
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday began a 10-day vacation as part of his 2025 annual leave, the Presidency has announced.
Tinubu, a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said will spend the 10-working-day vacation between France and the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria.
According to Onanuga, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja today, September 4, to commence a working vacation in Europe, as part of his 2025 annual leave.
“The vacation will last 10 working days.
“President Tinubu will spend the period between France and the UK and then return to the country.”
But the statement didn’t mention if Tinubu transmitted a formal letter to the National Assembly, as required under Section 145(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to enable Vice President Kashim Shettima to act in his absence. Senate and the House of Representatives are currently on recess.
Tinubu, in October 2024, spent over two weeks in the UK and France on a similar “working vacation” without a formal handover.
Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu has become one of Nigeria’s most travelled leaders.
As of October 2024, Tinubu and Vice President Shettima reportedly undertook 41 trips across 26 countries, collectively spending 180 days abroad within their first 17 months in office. The President in particular, logged 124 days abroad, visiting 16 countries on 29 trips.
His most recent foreign engagement was in Brazil in August 2025, where he met President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Both countries signed agreements on trade, aviation, energy, and security cooperation, including talks to restore Petrobras’ operations in Nigeria and establish a Lagos–São Paulo direct air link.
Earlier trips have taken him to the United States, France, the United Kingdom, China, South Africa, Germany, Tanzania, and the United Arab Emirates, among others, where he canvassed for foreign investment and political support.
In January 2025, Tinubu attended the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, focusing on energy cooperation.
In May 2025, he travelled to Rome, Italy, to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, a ceremonial visit. In June–July 2025, he visited Saint Lucia for a state visit to strengthen ties with Caribbean nations.
In June–July 2025, he travelled to Brazil for a state visit to enhance cooperation in trade and agriculture.
In August 2025, he attended the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama in Ghana, a diplomatic visit. In August 2025, he made a brief stopover in the UAE, likely Dubai, en route to Japan.
In August 2025, he attended the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Yokohama, Japan, for investment and bilateral ties. In August 2025, he returned to Brazil for a second state visit to advance agriculture and aviation agreements.
Critics argue that while the trips project Nigeria’s presence on the global stage, they have yet to yield tangible economic relief for citizens battling high inflation, insecurity, and declining living standards.
