President Bola Tinubu’s return to Nigeria from Europe on Tuesday was accompanied by heightened security operations in Abuja and Lagos, with military and police personnel restricting movement on major routes leading to the airports.
Tinubu had departed Nigeria on August 30 for what the Presidency described as a working vacation in Europe. He left Paris, France, on Tuesday and was expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos later in the day.
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the President’s return to Lagos.
The Presidency had earlier said Tinubu extended his stay in Europe by a few days after spending time in London before proceeding to Paris.
During his stay in France, the President held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bollore, among other engagements.
According to the Presidency, Tinubu chose Lagos as his first destination upon returning to Nigeria to honour the late businessman and politician, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
Abiola was a prominent figure in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement and the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the annulled June 12, 1993 election.
Tinubu is also expected to attend the national premiere of a documentary on Abiola at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Lagos on October 1, which marks Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day anniversary.
Security restrictions affect travellers
The President’s arrival, however, was preceded by significant security operations around airports in Abuja and Lagos.
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Military and police personnel reportedly mounted roadblocks along major routes, with the restrictions affecting the movement of travellers and other road users.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong said he was among those affected by the security measures in Abuja.
In a post on X, Effiong said he arrived late for his flight after encountering what he described as an unusual roadblock mounted by security personnel in anticipation of Tinubu’s return.
“I arrived a bit late for my flight in Abuja this afternoon because of an unusual roadblock mounted by the military and the police in anticipation of Tinubu’s return,” he said.
Effiong later posted from Lagos, where he criticised the security presence around the airport and questioned the extent of the movement restrictions.
“I just arrived in Lagos, and this is the kind of madness that is going on at the Lagos airport,” he said.
The lawyer questioned why extensive restrictions were imposed around one of the country’s busiest airports because of the President’s arrival.
“How can the busiest airport in the commercial capital of a country be put on lockdown for hours because an absentee President is on his way back to the country?” he asked.
Effiong also criticised the disruption caused to residents and travellers, arguing that the security arrangements had created unnecessary inconvenience.
He further accused the Tinubu administration of worsening economic hardship and criticised what he described as its policies on poverty and corruption.