President Bola Tinubu is expected back in Nigeria today after spending two weeks abroad, while over 150 Nigerians were killed by terrorists in Plateau and Benue states.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga confirmed this in a brief post shared on X on Monday, saying, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will return home today.”
There had been public outrage that Mr. Tinubu did not cut short his stay abroad as terrorists continued to kill Nigerians in the North-Central. But his media aides insisted that their principal was working from abroad and tackling the challenges.
Tinubu had departed for Paris on April 2, 2025, with the Presidency telling Nigerians that it was a two-week working visit.
Onanuga claimed that the purpose was to “appraise his administration’s mid-term performance and assess key milestones.”
But his continued stay abroad, amid worsening insecurity, had sparked criticisms.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi had both questioned the President’s absence in light of the escalating violence.
Atiku, through his media aide Paul Ibe, criticised Tinubu’s continued stay abroad, describing it as “irresponsibility on the part of the APC-led government.”
“Tinubu is away while Nigeria burns—daily killings, attacks, and loss of territories. This is deeply troubling,” Atiku stated. “Nigerians are yearning for real leadership—someone who’s present and actively engaged.”
Obi hin a post on X had also urged the president to return home immediately to address the security sitaution.
“In the two weeks you have been away, over 150 Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity,” he said, citing attacks in Plateau, Zamfara, Borno, and Benue.
“I urge Mr President to quickly suspend whatever he is doing in France and rush home to take responsibility by addressing these disturbing issues,” Obi wrote.
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