President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, following a four-week working vacation in Europe, barring any last-minute change in schedule.

The President is expected to arrive through Lagos, where he will be received at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Tinubu is expected to remain in Lagos through Thursday, October 1, when he will mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and deliver a national broadcast.

The Federal Government has announced that the President’s Independence Day address will form part of activities marking the anniversary. A public lecture is also scheduled for September 30.

This will be the second consecutive year Tinubu observes the Independence anniversary in Lagos.

The President was initially expected to return to Abuja at the weekend but is now scheduled to return on Tuesday and remain in Lagos for a few days after the anniversary for official engagements before proceeding to Abuja next weekend.

Tinubu’s return will mark the end of an extended working vacation that began on August 30, when he departed Abuja for London.

The Presidency had initially announced a three-week annual leave, with London as his first destination. After about a week in London, the President travelled to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.

On September 21, the Presidency announced that Tinubu would extend his stay by a few days.

Despite his absence from the country, the President continued to receive briefings and issue directives on matters of national importance.

One of the major developments during the period was his directive for a comprehensive investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners held in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State.

The Federal Government subsequently constituted a 10-member independent investigative committee, while some NSCDC officers were suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

Vice President Kashim Shettima also represented Tinubu at several official engagements, including Nigeria’s participation in the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

With the Vice President also out of the country, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, represented the President at selected official functions in line with the Presidency’s arrangements.

Tinubu’s return also comes amid preparations for the 2027 general elections, with political parties already beginning mobilisation and consultations across the country.

Attention is now expected to shift to the President’s Independence Day address, his engagements in Lagos and the resumption of presidential activities from Abuja next weekend.