President to attend movie premiere at Wole Soyinka Theatre, hold 2027 strategic meetings, witness $7bn DP World deal
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ended his working vacation in Europe and has departed Paris, France, for Nigeria, the Presidency announced on Monday.
In a Statehouse Press Release issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on September 29, 2026, the President’s aircraft is expected to touch down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, later this evening.
According to the statement, President Tinubu chose to fly to Lagos first to honour the memory of Chief MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election and martyr of Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ended his working vacation and has already departed Paris, France, for the homeward journey to Nigeria. President Tinubu’s aircraft is expected to touch down at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, later this evening,” the statement said.
The Presidency disclosed that while in Lagos, the President will attend the premiere of a movie honouring Chief Abiola on Independence Day at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
“The Nigerian leader chose to fly to Lagos first to honour the memory of Chief MKO Abiola, the martyr of Nigeria’s democratic struggle. On Independence Day, the President will attend the premiere of a movie honouring Abiola, the winner of the June 1993 election, at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos,” Onanuga stated
Beyond the Independence Day event, President Tinubu will also hold strategic political meetings with leaders and associates in Lagos over several days in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
The statement revealed that President Tinubu departed Abuja on August 30 for the working vacation, spending one week in London before heading to Paris, France.
While in Paris, the President attended a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron and held high-level meetings with top business leaders, including Mr. Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group, whose media and digital interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
“While in Paris, he attended a private dinner with President Emmanuel Macron. He also met with business leaders, including Mr Vincent Bolloré of the Bolloré Group, whose media and digital interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group. On Monday, he also met with the Chairman of First Holdings, Femi Otedola,” the release added.
One of the major highlights of the President’s trip was his role in witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the construction of a Gateway deep seaport in Ogun Waterside and the creation of a Blue Marine Economic Zone in the area.
According to the Presidency, DP World, one of the world’s leading ports and logistics operators, plans to invest $7 billion for the seaport and the economic zone, a project expected to boost Nigeria’s maritime economy and create thousands of jobs.
“Last week, President Tinubu witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World to build a Gateway deep seaport in Ogun Waterside and create a Blue Marine Economic Zone in the area. DP World, one of the world’s leading ports and logistics operators, plans to invest $7 billion for the seaport and the economic zone,” Onanuga said.
The statement added that President Tinubu will return to Abuja after concluding his political engagements in Lagos.
The President’s return comes amid mounting criticism from opposition parties, including the African Action Congress, AAC, which dragged the President to court over his failure to transmit power to Vice President Kashim Shettima during his 30-day absence.
The Presidency has maintained that the President was working from abroad and remained in full control of governance.
