President Bola Tinubu has departed Nigeria for London, the United Kingdom on a three-week holiday as part of his leave for 2026.
The president left Abuja on Sunday amid ceremonial farewell ceremonies attended by government officials, security staff, and military officers.
The president arrived at the airport in a convoy, walked with advisers, and boarded the plane while personnel saluted and coworkers waved goodbye.
Sunday Dare, the presidential adviser on journalists and public communications, spoke to the journalists at the scene.
Dare explained Tinubu’s absence, saying it would allow him to “refuel” after months of heavy participation with state matters.
He claimed that the president had spent the previous six to seven months dealing with state issues, including security and economic decisions, in preparation for the 2027 election campaign.
“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,” he said.
He went on to say that the campaign season had begun and that heavy political activities would last several months, but that governance would continue.
“And at this point, the campaign season has just started. We have four or five months of serious campaigning. Of course, governance will still continue,” Dare said.
He stated that the leave was important for the president to rest and prepare for the campaign season, adding that Tinubu would remain engaged with government affairs while abroad.
“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. 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,” he said.
Tinubu’s departure came after his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced that the president would take a three-week yearly leave in Europe.
Onanuga stated that Tinubu’s first trip would be London, United Kingdom, and that he planned to return to Nigeria after his working holiday to start the campaign for the January 2027 election.
The President’s vacation follows Vice President Kashim Shettima’s return from a two-week sabbatical on August 18, two days ahead of plan.
Shettima began his leave on August 6, and his office stated that he would spend the time for “study, reflection, and intellectual renewal.”
