President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Nigeria following official visits to Saint Lucia and Brazil. He arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Saturday night, where he was received by a high-level government delegation.
Among those present to welcome the president were the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle; National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; and former Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko, among others.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed the president’s return in a post on his X handle (formerly Twitter) early Sunday morning.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Abuja Saturday night from his trips to Saint Lucia and Brazil,” Onanuga wrote. “He was welcomed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport by Budget Minister Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, Defence Minister Muhammed Bello Matawalle, and NSA Nuhu Ribadu.”
President Tinubu departed Nigeria on June 28 as part of a diplomatic tour aimed at strengthening ties with Caribbean and South American nations. In Saint Lucia, he participated in high-level engagements intended to deepen Nigeria’s relationship with Caribbean countries.
During his stay in Castries, the Saint Lucian capital, President Tinubu addressed a joint session of the country’s parliament. In recognition of his visit and efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, he was awarded Saint Lucia’s highest national honour — the Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Lucia (KCOSL) — on Monday, June 30, 2025.
“The visit by the Nigerian leader paves the way for the rekindling of our ancestral bonds, igniting a new era of diplomatic, cultural, and economic possibilities between our nations,” Onanuga added, quoting a statement from the government of Saint Lucia.
Following his engagements in Saint Lucia, Tinubu proceeded to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he joined other global leaders at the 2025 BRICS Summit. At the summit, the Nigerian president advocated for the inclusion of low-income economies in global development efforts and decision-making platforms.
President Tinubu’s return marks the end of a two-week diplomatic mission aimed at expanding Nigeria’s international partnerships and influence.
