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The Presidency has explained the circumstances surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s brief stumble during his official state visit to Türkiye, dismissing speculation about the President’s health.
The explanation followed public circulation of video footage showing President Tinubu momentarily losing balance while walking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a ceremonial reception in Ankara. Ejes Gist News reports that the Presidency described the incident as minor and accidental.
Presidency’s Explanation
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the President stepped on a metal object placed on the floor, which caused a brief loss of balance.
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According to him, the incident occurred after President Tinubu inspected a guard of honour as part of the official welcome ceremony hosted by the Turkish government.
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“This is not a big deal. It was a mere stumble, not a fall,” Onanuga said, adding that attempts to exaggerate the incident were misleading.
Clarification on Video Footage
A review of the circulating footage showed that a cameraman moved a tripod stand close to the President shortly before the stumble. However, the Presidency maintained that the President only stepped on an object, resulting in a momentary imbalance.
Officials within the Presidency stressed that the incident was unrelated to the President’s health and did not affect the schedule of official engagements.
Tinubu Continues Official Duties
Presidential aide Dada Olusegun stated that President Tinubu proceeded with all planned activities immediately after the incident, including a bilateral meeting and joint press conference with President Erdoğan.
Similarly, Special Adviser on Public Communication, Sunday Dare, confirmed that no injury was recorded and that the President remained fully engaged throughout the visit.
“President Tinubu proceeded to scheduled bilateral meetings with the President of Türkiye and other senior government officials from both countries,” Dare said.
No Cause for Alarm — Presidency
Reacting to public speculation, the Presidency said there was no cause for alarm, reiterating that President Tinubu was hale and hearty and continued to discharge his official duties without interruption.
The Turkish visit forms part of Nigeria’s broader diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between both countries.
Purpose of the Türkiye Visit
According to the Presidency, the visit is focused on expanding cooperation between Nigeria and Türkiye in key sectors, including:
- Trade and investment
- Defence and security cooperation
- Infrastructure development
- Education and social development
- Innovation and aviation
The state visit also reciprocates President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s official visit to Nigeria in October 2021 and includes a business forum designed to connect investors from both countries.
