President Bola Tinubu on Sunday departed Abuja for Europe on a three-week vacation, which forms part of his 2026 annual leave.
The President’s departure came as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections, with political parties and their candidates beginning preparations and campaigns ahead of the polls.
Tinubu was seen leaving Abuja amid an official send-off ceremony attended by government officials, security personnel and military officers.
Footage from the departure showed the President arriving at the airport in a motorcade, walking alongside his aides and boarding the aircraft. Military and security personnel were also seen saluting as the President prepared to leave the country.
Speaking to journalists at the airport, the Presidential Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, said the vacation was necessary to enable the President to rest and regain strength after months of handling major national issues.
Dare described the break as an opportunity for Tinubu to “refuel” before entering what is expected to be a busy political period.
According to him, the President had spent the past six to seven months dealing with important matters concerning the country, particularly security and the economy.
“The President has had several months—six, seven months—of being engaged with state matters. We’ve seen monumental changes, monumental decisions taken with our security, with our economy and so many other things as pertains to the running of the affairs of this country,” Dare said.
He added that the political campaign season had now started, making it necessary for the President to take some time off before the expected months of intense political activities.
Dare said governance would continue despite the President’s absence from the country.
“And at this point, the campaign season has just started. We have four, five months of serious campaigning. Of course, governance will still continue,” he said.
The presidential aide, however, stressed that Tinubu’s vacation would not mean that he would be completely disconnected from government.
He said the President would continue to receive regular briefings from his ministers, service chiefs and other officials responsible for important decisions while he is away.
“And at this point, it’s important that the President also refuels. And even though he’s going on leave, we know that he’ll be engaged with state matters on a daily basis,” Dare said.
“He will receive briefings from his ministers, from the service chiefs as the case may be, and from every other person who is handling very key decisions in our country.”
The President’s trip followed an earlier announcement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, that Tinubu would embark on a three-week annual leave in Europe.
Onanuga had said London, United Kingdom, would be the President’s first destination during the trip.
He explained that the President was expected to return to Nigeria after the working vacation and join the campaign activities for the 2027 election.
Tinubu’s decision to proceed on leave comes at a time when his administration is facing several major economic and security challenges.
Since assuming office in May 2023, the President has introduced a number of major policies aimed at changing the structure of the Nigerian economy.
His administration removed the petrol subsidy soon after taking office and also allowed the naira to trade more freely. The policies were presented by the government as necessary measures to reform the economy, although they resulted in higher living costs and increased pressure on households and businesses.
The government has also continued to focus on reducing insecurity, particularly kidnapping, banditry and terrorism in different parts of the country.
Security agencies have stepped up military operations and other measures against armed groups, while the government has repeatedly promised to improve the safety of Nigerians.
The coming months are also expected to bring increased political activities as politicians and political parties position themselves for the 2027 elections.
Tinubu has not formally declared his intention to seek another term in office in the material provided, but several political groups and supporters have already begun activities around the 2027 presidential contest.
The President’s expected return to Nigeria after his European vacation will therefore coincide with a period of heightened political activity.
His trip also comes shortly after Vice President Kashim Shettima returned to the country from his own two-week leave.
Shettima commenced his leave on August 6 and was initially expected to return two days after the eventual date of his return. He returned on August 18.
At the time, the Vice President’s office said the break was intended to provide him with an opportunity for “study, reflection and intellectual renewal.”
The two senior officials’ vacations have attracted public attention because of the timing, coming as the government continues to deal with economic and security matters while political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather pace.
However, the Presidency has maintained that the President’s absence from Nigeria will not stop the government from functioning.
Under Nigeria’s constitutional system, the Vice President serves as Acting President when the President formally transmits a declaration to the National Assembly that he is proceeding on vacation or is otherwise unable to perform his functions.
The arrangement is designed to ensure continuity in the running of government whenever the President is away or temporarily unable to perform his duties.
Tinubu’s three-week vacation is therefore expected to provide him with an opportunity to rest before returning to what promises to be a demanding period of governance and political activities.
Dare’s comments suggest that the President will continue to monitor major developments in Nigeria during the break, especially issues relating to security, the economy and other matters requiring his attention.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the coming months are expected to be marked by increased political meetings, rallies and consultations across the country.
The Presidency has said Tinubu’s vacation is part of his 2026 annual leave and that he will return to Nigeria after the working holiday.
For now, the President is expected to spend the three-week period in Europe, beginning with London, before returning to Nigeria to continue his duties and participate in the political activities leading to the 2027 elections.