President Bola Ahmed Tinubu proceeded with scheduled bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan despite a minor stumble during a ceremonial welcome in Ankara, the Turkish capital.
A video that went viral online showed President Tinubu missing a step while walking alongside Erdoğan, prompting officials to assist him in regaining balance. The incident, however, did not affect the ongoing state visit or the planned diplomatic engagements.
The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, confirmed via X that the brief misstep had no impact on the proceedings: “Mr President missed his step very briefly and has continued his bilateral meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. A live press conference is happening immediately after the bilateral.”
According to the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, Tinubu immediately moved from the ceremonial reception to a series of bilateral meetings with President Erdoğan and senior Turkish officials. The discussions are aimed at strengthening existing relations and exploring new areas of cooperation between Nigeria and Turkey, with focus on security, education, social development, innovation, aviation, finance, communication, trade, and investment.
The state visit began on Monday with the President departing Abuja for Ankara. Upon arrival, he was welcomed with full ceremonial honors, including the playing of Nigeria’s national anthem, followed by the Turkish anthem. Tinubu was escorted from his black limousine by protocol officials before proceeding to meetings with Turkish leaders.
Analysts note that the visit is part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to deepen diplomatic and economic ties with Turkey, a key partner in regional trade and security initiatives. The bilateral meetings are expected to cover joint security efforts, potential investment agreements, educational collaborations, and expanded aviation partnerships.
Despite the viral attention given to the stumble, government officials emphasized that the President remains in good health and fully engaged in diplomatic activities. The live press conference following the meetings further reassured stakeholders that all planned discussions were proceeding smoothly.
This visit underscores the commitment of the Nigerian administration to maintain strong international partnerships and demonstrates resilience in navigating minor incidents without disrupting diplomatic protocols.
