President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Lagos after ending his one-month working vacation in Europe, with the Presidency saying he will hold meetings with political leaders and associates ahead of the 2027 elections.
Tinubu arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on Tuesday evening after departing Paris, France, where he had spent most of his stay abroad.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other senior officials received the President at the airport.
Also present were House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila and other government and security officials.
Tinubu’s arrival was confirmed by his Special Assistant on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, who posted, “Landing. Welcome home Mr President!”
The President left Abuja on August 30 for what the Presidency described as a working vacation. He spent about a week in London before travelling to Paris.
The Presidency later announced that his stay abroad had been extended by several days.
According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu chose Lagos as his first destination after returning to Nigeria partly to honour the memory of the late MKO Abiola.
The President is expected to attend the October 1 premiere of a film honouring Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
Abiola is associated with the June 12, 1993 presidential election, whose result was annulled by the military government.
While in Lagos, Tinubu is also expected to hold strategic meetings with political leaders and associates over several days in preparation for the 2027 elections.
The meetings will come as political parties and various political blocs intensify preparations for the next general election.
Tinubu’s stay in France included several official and private engagements.
He held a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and met businessman Vincent Bolloré over investment opportunities in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy.
The Presidency said Bolloré’s group discussed plans to deepen its Nigerian operations in areas including film, entertainment and fibre-optic infrastructure.
Tinubu also met businessman Femi Otedola during the final days of his stay in France.
Another major development during the trip was the signing of memoranda of understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the development of the Gateway Deep Seaport and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone in Ogun Waterside.
The Federal Government said the proposed projects involve more than $7bn in investment and are expected to support maritime, logistics and industrial development along the Ogun coastline.
The President is expected to return to Abuja after completing his political engagements in Lagos.
