President Bola Tinubu returned to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, after spending about four weeks in Europe on an extended working vacation, dismissing concerns about his health and declaring himself ready to resume full official duties.

Tinubu arrived in Lagos from Paris, where he had spent the final part of his trip. Speaking shortly after his arrival, the president said he enjoyed his time away and described the vacation as “Fantastic!”

Asked about his health and readiness to return to work, Tinubu said, “Ready to kick, ready to work. There’s nothing wrong.”

He further dismissed concerns over his health as political rumours, saying, “Rumor will always be emanating from politics, but the facts remain, I’m here. Healthy, sound, and ready to go.”

The president’s absence had attracted public attention after his initial three-week vacation, which began with his departure from Nigeria on August 30, was extended by several days.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who was among government officials and political leaders at the airport to receive Tinubu, said he expected the president’s period of rest to be followed by increased activity from the administration.

“It is incredibly nice to have him after one month away, and we believe that the days he has spent resting will translate into more action this time around,” Abbas said.

“We believe that he will come with renewed vigour, a renewed hope, to continue serving the good people of Nigeria.”

During his stay in Europe, Tinubu held engagements with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose media and digital interests include Canal+, MultiChoice, and Universal Music Group.

He also met with Chairman of FirstHoldco Plc, Femi Otedola, in Paris on Monday.

Last week, the president witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the development of a Gateway deep seaport in Ogun Waterside and the establishment of a Blue Marine Economic Zone.

DP World plans to invest $7 billion in the seaport and economic zone.

The Presidency had initially announced that Tinubu would spend three weeks on vacation. However, on September 21, his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced that the president had extended his working vacation by a few days and would return at the weekend.

His eventual return on September 29 brought the extended stay outside the country to an end.

The prolonged absence had also triggered debate over Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, particularly regarding the procedure governing presidential absence from Nigeria.

The debate was partly driven by the expiration of the president’s initially announced three-week vacation and the subsequent postponement of his return.

Section 145, however, does not expressly stipulate that a president can only remain outside Nigeria for 21 days. It provides that when the president proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge his functions, he is to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after which the vice president performs the functions of president as Acting President.