Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is “in great shape” and continued his official engagements after briefly stumbling during a state reception in Turkey, presidential aides have said.
The 73-year-old leader was being formally welcomed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a ceremony in Ankara when he momentarily lost his balance. Footage shared on the Turkish president’s official X account shows Tinubu walking past a guard of honour before stepping to his right, stumbling, and going down briefly as aides and officials rushed to assist him.
The video then cuts away before resuming moments later with Tinubu standing beside Erdogan, suggesting the incident did not disrupt the ceremony.
Presidential aide Sunday Dare quickly dismissed concerns, saying Tinubu was unharmed and proceeded with scheduled bilateral meetings.
“President Tinubu is in great shape as the state visit proceeds smoothly,” Dare wrote in a post on X, adding that the president moved on to high-level talks with Turkish officials shortly after the ceremony.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga later explained that Tinubu had stepped on a metal object on the floor, causing him to lose balance.
“This is not a big deal, except for those who want to make mischief out of a fleeting incident,” Onanuga said. “It was a mere stumble, thank God, not a fall.”
Social Media Reactions and Past Incidents
Video clips of the moment quickly circulated on social media, sparking widespread discussion. Tinubu has previously downplayed similar incidents. In June 2024, after a public stumble, he joked that observers thought he was performing a popular dance move. That incident was also described by aides as a “mild mis-step” and drew sympathy across party lines, including from opposition figure Atiku Abubakar.
Former senator Shehu Sani had then remarked that such moments showed the president was human and no different from other citizens.
Strengthening Nigeria–Turkey Ties
Tinubu’s visit to Turkey is aimed at deepening diplomatic, economic, and defence relations between both countries. Following talks in Ankara, Turkey announced new agreements with Nigeria covering trade, defence cooperation, military training, and intelligence sharing.
At a joint press conference, President Erdogan said both nations had reaffirmed a goal of boosting bilateral trade to $5 billion. Turkey also pledged support for Nigeria’s fight against militant groups.
“Nigeria remains open for serious partnership,” Tinubu later posted on X. “Open to trade without barriers. Open to ideas, skills, and investment that create value and shared prosperity.”
Tinubu has been Nigeria’s president since 2023, after defeating Atiku Abubakar in the general election.
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