President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has begun a 10-day working vacation, marking part of his 2025 annual leave, according to an announcement from the Presidency on Thursday.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, it was confirmed that the President departed Abuja on September 4 and will divide his time between France and the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria.
Onanuga stated, “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.”
The statement, however, made no reference to the President transmitting a formal letter to the National Assembly, as required by Section 145(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Such a letter would have empowered Vice President Kashim Shettima to serve as Acting President during Tinubu’s absence. At present, both chambers of the Assembly are on recess.
In October 2024, Tinubu embarked on a similar two-week working vacation in the UK and France without issuing a formal handover to his deputy.
Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most widely travelled leaders. His most recent foreign engagement was in Brazil in August 2025, where he met with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. That visit saw both nations sign cooperation agreements covering trade, aviation, energy, and security. Discussions also included reviving Petrobras’ operations in Nigeria and launching a direct Lagos–São Paulo flight route.
The President’s international schedule has been extensive. Earlier travels have included trips to the United States, China, South Africa, Germany, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, among others. These visits have often centered on courting foreign investment and building political alliances.
In January 2025, he attended the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit in Tanzania, focusing on regional energy cooperation. In May, he visited Rome for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. By June and July, he was in Saint Lucia for a state visit aimed at deepening ties with Caribbean nations. Around the same period, he also traveled to Brazil to expand partnerships in trade and agriculture.
August was particularly busy for the President. He attended the swearing-in of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, stopped briefly in the UAE en route to Japan, and participated in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Yokohama. Later that same month, he returned to Brazil for a second state visit focused on agriculture and aviation agreements.
Despite the frequency of these trips, critics argue that they have yet to translate into concrete improvements for Nigerians grappling with high inflation, insecurity, and worsening living conditions.
What You Should Know
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s leader since May 2023, is currently on a 10-day working vacation in France and the UK.
While his international travels aim to strengthen global partnerships and attract investments, questions persist over whether these frequent trips are producing meaningful benefits for ordinary Nigerians.
