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The Presidency has assured Nigerians that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains in good health and is fully engaged in his ongoing state visit to Türkiye, despite a brief stumble during a ceremonial reception in Ankara on Tuesday.
The clarification was given by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, in a statement shared via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.
Tinubu Proceeds to Bilateral Talks After Ceremony
According to Dare, President Tinubu moved seamlessly from the ceremonial welcome to his scheduled bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other top government officials.
“President Tinubu, after a stately welcome ceremony in Ankara, proceeded to scheduled bilateral meetings with the President of Türkiye and other senior government officials,” Dare said.
The meetings are focused on strengthening diplomatic relations and expanding cooperation in key sectors such as defence and security, trade and investment, energy, and overall economic development.
Presidency Explains Cause of Stumble
Reacting to public concerns over the incident, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed speculations about Tinubu’s health, describing the stumble as minor and accidental.
According to Onanuga, the President briefly lost balance after stepping on a metal object on the floor.
“The President stepped on a metal on the floor, which made him lose his balance. This is not a big deal, except for those who want to make mischief out of a fleeting incident. It was a mere stumble, thank God, not a fall,” he stated.
A video shared by Turkish digital news outlet Nefes Gazetesi captured the moment President Tinubu briefly lost balance while walking alongside President Erdoğan. He was promptly assisted by security personnel, and the ceremony continued without interruption.
Details of the Reception
The ceremonial reception commenced at about 5:00 pm local time, featuring the playing of the Nigerian and Turkish national anthems, followed by a traditional 21-gun salute.
After the formalities, both leaders withdrew to a closed-door bilateral meeting where discussions centred on matters of strategic national interest.
Strengthening Nigeria–Türkiye Relations
This visit marks President Tinubu’s first official trip to Türkiye and serves as a reciprocal engagement following President Erdoğan’s visit to Nigeria in October 2021 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The visit is aimed at consolidating long-standing diplomatic ties and exploring new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.
Onanuga noted that discussions will cover political and diplomatic relations, finance, communication, trade, and investment. He added that high-level officials from both countries are expected to sign memoranda of understanding in areas including scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media, military collaboration, and protocol.
A Nigeria–Türkiye business forum is also scheduled, bringing together investors from both nations to explore fresh economic opportunities.
Nigerian Officials in Attendance
Senior Nigerian officials who received President Tinubu at his hotel in Ankara include the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd).
