By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
President Bola Tinubu is expected to arrive back in Nigeria today following a 19-day trip to Europe that has drawn intense public scrutiny amid rising insecurity across the country.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy confirmed the development in a post on X, Monday.
Tinubu had departed Abuja on April 2 for Paris on what the presidency initially described as a two-week “working visit.” However, as days turned into weeks, with no detailed itinerary released and no public address from the president, questions began to mount.
The presidency later disclosed that Tinubu had left Paris for London, extending his stay beyond the initially announced timeline, with no official reason given for the change of schedule or prolonged absence.
In the president’s absence, Nigeria has witnessed a troubling surge in insecurity, particularly in Plateau and Benue states, where dozens have been killed and many abducted by armed groups. The wave of violence has reignited public anger over what many view as a leadership vacuum.
Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate, criticised Tinubu’s extended stay abroad, accusing him of “gallivanting across Europe while Nigeria bleeds.”
Similarly, Peter Obi of the Labour Party urged the president to suspend his overseas retreat and return home to tackle the growing crisis.
Despite the mounting concerns, the presidency defended Tinubu’s absence, insisting that governance has not been hampered.
“President Tinubu has been in constant touch with top government officials and continues to discharge his duties remotely,” Onanuga said in an earlier statement.
As Nigerians await Tinubu’s return, attention now shifts to how his administration will respond to the growing insecurity and public dissatisfaction that increased in his absence.