President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has left Abuja for Europe to begin a three-week annual vacation, the Presidency has announced.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on Sunday, August 30, 2026, for what the Presidency described as a working vacation. His departure was disclosed by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
According to Onanuga, the President’s first destination will be London, United Kingdom. However, the Presidency did not provide details of his complete itinerary or confirm whether he would travel to other European countries during the three-week break.
The vacation comes at a politically important period, with Nigeria already entering the active phase of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The Presidency said Tinubu would return to Nigeria after the vacation to continue his official responsibilities and participate in activities connected with the forthcoming elections.
Onanuga said the President would return to join the campaign activities ahead of the January 2027 elections.
Tinubu’s decision to proceed on a three-week vacation was not announced ahead of his departure, making the development relatively sudden.
The President’s latest break is also his first major annual vacation of 2026. His previous annual leave was in September 2025, when he travelled to Europe for a 10-working-day vacation.
During that 2025 trip, Tinubu spent time in France and the United Kingdom. The vacation was eventually brought to an end earlier than initially planned, with the Presidency announcing on September 15 that he had completed the working portion of the trip and would return to Abuja the following day.
Tinubu also spent part of the December 2025 holiday period in Europe before travelling to Abu Dhabi in January 2026 to attend Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
In October 2024, shortly after assuming office, the President took a two-week vacation in the United Kingdom. The Presidency said at the time that the break gave him an opportunity to reflect on his administration’s economic reforms and hold consultations.
This year’s vacation comes against the backdrop of increasing political activities across the country.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
The campaign period for the presidential and National Assembly elections officially began on August 19, 2026. Political parties and candidates are therefore expected to intensify their campaigns, consultations and mobilisation efforts as the election draws closer.
Tinubu is seeking another term in office under the platform of the All Progressives Congress. His bid for a second term is expected to face competition from opposition parties and politicians.
His three-week absence from Nigeria therefore comes at a time when political discussions, alliances and campaign activities are gaining momentum.
While the Presidency described the trip as part of Tinubu’s annual leave, his expected return will place him back at the centre of both government activities and the growing preparations for the 2027 presidential contest.
For now, the Presidency has not released further details about Tinubu’s European schedule. The President is expected to return to Nigeria after the three-week break and resume his official engagements.
