Concerns have emerged over the recent public visibility of President Bola Tinubu, as fiery activist and former presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) Omoyele Sowore, decried that Nigeria is effectively operating “without a president.”
In a statement shared on X handle (formerly Twitter), Sowore questioned the whereabouts of President Tinubu, alleging that the president has been largely absent from public view for an extended period.
Sowore, who has been a persistent critic of the current administration, described the situation as troubling and called for clarity on the president’s status and activities.
“Nigeria without a President! Where is Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT these days? He appears to have vanished entirely from public view!” Sowore said, at a time when the country is grappling with economic hardship, security challenges, and widespread public discontent.
https://x.com/sowore/status/2009895801607336401/photo/1
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency has not issued an official response directly addressing Sowore’s claims.
However, government officials in previous instances have maintained that President Tinubu continues to discharge his duties, including holding meetings, receiving briefings, and engaging in official activities that may not always be open to the public.
Opposition figures and civil society groups have echoed calls for clearer information, urging the government to reassure Nigerians about the president’s health, location, and active involvement in governance.
The debate comes amid ongoing economic reforms, rising living costs, and nationwide protests, heightening scrutiny of leadership and accountability at the highest levels of government.
A SaharaReporters’ review of the 2026 Nigerian budget on Friday, has shown that a sum of N6.1billion is planned to be spent by President Bola Tinubu on international travels in the fiscal year.
The amount is listed in the budget breakdown under State House operations – President.
According to the breakdown, the President also plans to spend N873 million on local travels during the fiscal year.
Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to spend N1.3 billion on foreign trips in the 2026 fiscal year.
In total, President Tinubu and his Vice, Shettima, plan to spend N7.4 billion on foreign trips in 2026.
Last Sunday, President Tinubu departed Lagos for Europe to continue his end-of-year break ahead of an official trip to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement shared across his social media platforms.
According to the statement, Tinubu would proceed to Abu Dhabi following an invitation from the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to participate in the 2026 edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit (ADSW 2026), slated for January.
According to the Presidency, the weeklong summit is an annual event that mobilises leaders from government, business, and society to chart the next era of sustainable development.
It was further noted that the President would return to the country after the summit.
Further review of the 2026 budget shows that N375 million has also been earmarked for foodstuffs and catering materials supply in the fiscal year.
