President Tinubu Stumbles During Welcome Ceremony in Turkey

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu briefly stumbled and fell on Tuesday during an official welcome ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, as he walked alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the start of his state visit.

The incident occurred during the ceremonial proceedings when President Tinubu appeared to miss his step. He was quickly assisted by officials and security personnel, regained his balance, and continued with the programme without any further disruption.

President Tinubu is in Turkey on a state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic, economic, and security relations between Nigeria and Turkey. He arrived in Ankara late Monday and was received by senior Turkish government officials and members of the Nigerian delegation.

During the visit, Tinubu is expected to hold high-level talks with President Erdoğan focused on expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, defence, and energy. The trip is also expected to feature the signing of bilateral agreements and engagements with business leaders from both countries.

The visit forms part of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to deepen international partnerships and attract foreign investment while enhancing strategic cooperation with key global partners.

Benita Ibrahim