The Presidency had stated that Tinubu would visit Brazil between July 6 and 7 from Saint Lucia.
The Nigerian presidency has remained silent on the whereabouts of President Bola Tinubu, days after the BRICS summit ended in Brazil.
The Presidency had stated that Tinubu would visit Brazil between July 6 and 7 from Saint Lucia.
However, as of the time of this report, there has been no announcement confirming that he has returned to the country or travelled to another country apart from Brazil.
The statement announcing Tinubu's travels read:
"President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday, June 28, 2025, on a two-nation visit to Saint Lucia and Brazil."
"His first stop is Saint Lucia, where he will pay a state visit as part of efforts to deepen Nigeria’s engagement with Caribbean nations and strengthen South-South cooperation."
"At the end of the visit to the island State, President Tinubu will fly to Brazil to participate in the 17th Summit of BRICS in Rio de Janeiro."
"During the visit to Saint Lucia, President Tinubu will pay courtesy calls on the Governor-General, His Excellency Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles, and Prime Minister Philip Pierre."
"A key highlight of the visit will be President Tinubu’s address to the special joint session of the Senate and the House of Assembly of Saint Lucia at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet."
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SaharaReporters’ checks on the State House website failed to show any publication announcing Tinubu’s return to Nigeria.
Checks on his spokesperson Bayo Onanuga's handle also failed to show that his return to Nigeria has been announced.
Previously, SaharaReporters, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that Tinubu’s visit to Saint Lucia was to serve as a strategic cover for a discreet medical consultation.
According to the sources, the Caribbean island’s role in this arrangement is linked to the influence of Gilbert Chagoury, a close associate of President Tinubu and the Honorary Consul of Saint Lucia to the Vatican.
Chagoury is believed to have facilitated the logistics of the visit in a manner similar to how Tinubu was previously invited to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, who was inaugurated on Sunday, May 18, 2025, with a Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.
According to government sources, the visit to Saint Lucia offered the ideal opportunity for Tinubu’s medical team to meet with him away from the attention of Nigerian media and public scrutiny.
"It’s a clever decoy," one source said. "The only reason why President Tinubu is in St. Lucia is that it provides a good decoy to arrange for his doctors to meet him without the prying eyes of Nigerian journalists since Gilbert Chagouri is the Honorary Consul of St Lucia to the Vatican."
President Tinubu’s recent medical trips have mostly been to France, but these often sparked public outcry and speculation due to his perceived lack of transparency regarding his health status.