Breaking: Tinubu Jets Out For Europe Ahead Of Abu Dhabi Summit

President Bola Tinubu has departed Lagos for Europe to continue his end-of-year break, ahead of an official engagement in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

The development was confirmed on Sunday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said President Tinubu left Lagos on December 28 and would proceed from Europe to Abu Dhabi in early January.

According to Onanuga, the President has been invited by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, to participate in the 2026 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026).

The weeklong summit is an annual global forum that convenes leaders from government, business and civil society to shape the next phase of sustainable development.

The 2026 edition, themed “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” will focus on translating ambition into concrete action across innovation, finance and people.

Onanuga said the President’s participation underscored Nigeria’s continued engagement with international efforts on sustainability, energy transition and long-term economic development.

The trip comes amid public attention on the President’s recent foreign travel decisions. In November, President Tinubu postponed planned visits to South Africa and Angola, where he was scheduled to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg and the African Union–European Union Summit in Luanda.

At the time, the Presidency explained that the trips were deferred to allow the President remain in the country to receive detailed security briefings and personally oversee responses to rising security challenges in parts of Nigeria.

The Presidency had stressed that national security considerations informed the decision, with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing Nigeria at the G20 summit.

By proceeding with the Abu Dhabi engagement, the Presidency signalled that the ADSW Summit aligns with Nigeria’s strategic priorities, particularly in the areas of climate action, sustainable finance and economic transformation.

Onanuga added that President Tinubu will return to Nigeria after the conclusion of the summit.