Lagos Set to Receive Tinubu Tuesday Ahead of Independence Celebration

Kehinde Adeleye

President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria through Lagos on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, and remain in the state to celebrate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The President, who has been on a four-week working vacation in Europe, is expected to arrive at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, where Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is expected to receive him.

Tinubu is expected to stay in Lagos through Thursday, October 1, when Nigeria will mark its 66th Independence Anniversary.

His planned stay will also see the President attend to official state duties in Lagos before returning to Abuja by the following weekend.

The development will make it the second consecutive year Tinubu marks Nigeria’s Independence Day in Lagos.

In 2025, the President also remained in Lagos for the Independence celebration after an official visit to the state.

Tinubu’s return to Lagos comes after the Presidency earlier announced an extension of his working vacation by a few days.

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, had said the President departed Nigeria on August 30 for London, where he spent about a week before travelling to Paris, France.

While in Paris, Tinubu held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose business interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.

During the President’s absence from Nigeria, Vice President Kashim Shettima represented him at some official engagements.

For Lagos, Tinubu’s return is expected to place the state at the centre of the Federal Government’s Independence Day activities, with the President scheduled to combine the national celebration with official engagements before returning to Abuja.