TINUBU RETURNS TO ABUJA AFTER TWO-NATION DIPLOMATIC TOUR

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By: Sefiu Ajape

President Bola Tinubu returned to Abuja on Saturday night following a two-week diplomatic tour of Saint Lucia and Brazil, concluding his latest round of international engagements.

He was received at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by senior government officials, including the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Senator Aliyu Wamakko; and Alhaji Ibrahim Masari.

Tinubu left Abuja on June 28, beginning the trip with a state visit to Saint Lucia, where he aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and advance South-South cooperation. His visit also coincided with the Caribbean nation’s 45th Independence Anniversary.

On July 4, he proceeded to Brazil to participate in the 2025 BRICS Summit, held from July 6 to 7 in Rio de Janeiro. The summit gathered leaders of major emerging economies to deliberate on global economic reforms and sustainable development.

The President’s aircraft, a San Marino-registered Boeing Business Jet (REG: T7-NAS), departed Galeão International Airport at 12:50 p.m. local time (4:50 p.m. Nigerian time) on Saturday.

This tour adds to Tinubu’s growing list of diplomatic missions abroad since assuming office, further cementing his foreign policy agenda and engagement with the global South.

Since taking office in May 2023, President Tinubu has undertaken at least 41 foreign trips, covering no fewer than 28 countries across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Asia.

France remains his most frequently visited destination with six trips, followed by the United Kingdom (four visits) and the United Arab Emirates (three visits).

He has also made two trips each to Germany, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Guinea-Bissau. Other countries visited once include India, Kenya, Qatar, China, Senegal, the Netherlands, Benin Republic, Chad, Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Brazil, the USA, and the Vatican.

The President’s travels have focused on state visits, economic forums, diplomatic missions, and other key bilateral and multilateral engagements.