President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria following his diplomatic visits to Saint Lucia and Brazil.
He landed at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where a high-powered government delegation received him. The welcoming party included the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; the Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and former Sokoto governor, Aliyu Wamakko, among others.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed the president’s arrival in a post on his X handle early Sunday, stating:
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Abuja on Saturday night after visiting Saint Lucia and Brazil. He was received at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport by the Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku; Alhaji Ibrahim Masari; Senator Aliyu Wamakko; Minister for Defence, Muhammed Bello Matawalle; and NSA Nuhu Ribadu.”
President Tinubu had departed Nigeria on 28 June to begin his diplomatic engagements, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ties with Caribbean nations. According to Onanuga, the Saint Lucian government viewed the visit as a step towards rekindling ancestral bonds and fostering new diplomatic, cultural, and economic opportunities.
During his time in Saint Lucia, President Tinubu addressed a joint session of the country’s parliament and received the nation’s highest honour — the Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL).
Following his visit to Saint Lucia, he proceeded to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he joined other global leaders at the BRICS Summit. There, he advocated for the inclusion of low-income economies in international economic frameworks.