President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed Lagos for Europe as part of his end-of-year break and preparations for an official diplomatic engagement, the Federal Government confirmed on Sunday, 28 December 2025. The trip marks the first leg of a planned journey that will take the President to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for the 2026 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026).
A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu’s travel to Europe precedes his attendance at the Abu Dhabi summit an annual global forum that brings together heads of state, business leaders and civil society representatives to discuss sustainable development, innovation and climate action. He was invited by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to take part in the event scheduled for early January.
According to the presidency, the week-long summit under the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go” will focus on aligning global ambitions with actionable strategies across key sectors including finance, technology and environmental sustainability. After the summit, Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria to resume official duties.
Officials described the Europe segment of the journey as part of the President’s end-of-year break, with subsequent engagements reflecting Nigeria’s participation in international dialogues on economic resilience and environmental stewardship.
Political reactions to the trip have been mixed, with some critics arguing that the timing coincides with ongoing national security challenges and domestic crises, although the presidency maintains that international engagement and global representation remain central to Nigeria’s long-term strategic interests.
