President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria today, April 21st, 2025, following a work visit to France, the Presidency has confirmed.
His spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, announced the president’s return via social media platform X, stating that Mr. Tinubu would be “home today.”
The president departed Nigeria on April 2nd for Paris, on what the Presidency described as a “short work visit” to review ongoing reforms and strategise ahead of his second anniversary in office.
However, the trip sparked criticism from opposition figures, who questioned the president’s absence amid escalating security concerns in Nigeria, particularly in the states of Benue and Plateau, where numerous deadly attacks have occurred.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi both called for Mr. Tinubu’s immediate return, arguing that his presence was urgently needed to address the worsening security situation.
Mr. Abubakar, through his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, criticised the president for “dining under chandeliers” while Nigeria “spirals into chaos,” citing the loss of over 100 lives in Plateau State. Mr. Obi echoed these concerns, stating that over 150 Nigerians had been killed in security incidents across the country during the president’s two-week absence.
The Presidency, however, defended the trip, asserting that Mr. Tinubu had remained in constant communication with key officials and had issued directives to security agencies to address the unfolding security threats.
Rising Violence During President’s Absence
During President Tinubu’s absence, Nigeria witnessed a surge in violence, particularly in the Middle Belt region. In Plateau State, coordinated night raids in the Bokkos and Bassa areas resulted in the deaths of over 120 people, according to reports from Amnesty International and local eyewitnesses. Relief agencies have suggested the death toll may be even higher, with thousands displaced and homes burned. In Benue State, twin assaults attributed to armed herders in the Logo and Gbagir areas led to the deaths of at least 56 people. These attacks have exacerbated existing tensions between farming and herding communities in the region, raising concerns about the government’s ability to maintain security. The timing of these attacks, coinciding with the president’s absence, has fueled public criticism and calls for a more immediate and visible response from the government
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