President Bola Tinubu’s decision to travel to Europe amid reports of a deadly bomb blast in Zamfara State has drawn reactions from opposition figures and social media users.
The special adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Sunday that President Tinubu would depart Lagos on Sunday, December 28, for Europe.
According to Mr Onanuga, the trip is part of the President’s end of year break and ahead of an official engagement in the United Arab Emirates.
Onanuga stated that Tinubu was invited by the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to attend the 2026 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit, scheduled to hold early in January.
He said the weeklong summit is an annual event that brings together leaders from government, business and society to discuss sustainable development.
Onanuga added that the summit, with the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go”, will focus on innovation, finance and people, and how global systems can move forward.
He also said the President would return to Nigeria after the summit.
Reacting to the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed concern over the timing of the trip.
Writing on his X handle on Sunday, Mr Abdullahi said, “PBAT’s lack of care is scary.
“In the wake of yet another deadly bomb blast in Zamfara, to which the President has not said a single word; on the back of an unprecedented foreign military attack on Nigerian soil; right in the middle of all the uncertainty it has provoked; with a confused and scared nation waiting for the President to speak to us and assure us that all is well, the next thing we hear is that the President has gone on holiday.
“What a President!”
Other reactions also followed on social media.
One X user questioned the details of the trip, writing, “Which part of Europe?! I wouldn’t imagine an American or European leader just saying they are leaving for Africa? Which country?”
Another user raised concerns about clarity and transparency, asking, “What is the meaning of end of year break? What is the meaning of Europe? Is Europe the name of a country? When is the Abu Dhabi summit starting? When is it finishing? When is Tinubu returning to Nigeria? You tacitly avoided those questions because BAT is going to see his medical doctors and does not know when he is coming back. Everything about this government is fake. No transparency.”
A different user said, “Another foreign trip announced with flowery language, but still no clear details on cost, duration, delegation size, or tangible benefits to Nigerians. At a time of economic hardship, transparency and accountability around presidential travels are not optional they are necessary.”
Another reaction read, “If the President is on a break, he is entitled to it, but the public is entitled to know where. You cannot use official State House channels to announce a trip while withholding the most basic details.”
One more user questioned the security situation, saying, “Wait, our President is going to Europe while America’s military forces are in Nigeria over insecurity?? Has the primary responsibility securing lives and properties of her citizens of Government collapsed in Nigeria??”
