- Tinubu Turkey visit moment draws attention at Ankara ceremony
- Nigerian president regains balance and continues event calmly
- Erdogan seen guiding Tinubu during national anthem
- Visit focuses on trade, security, and diplomatic ties
President Bola Tinubu briefly lost his footing on Tuesday during an official welcome ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, drawing public attention during his ongoing state visit to Turkey. The moment occurred as Tinubu walked alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but the Nigerian leader quickly recovered and proceeded with the event without disruption.
The incident happened at the Turkish Presidential Palace shortly after President Tinubu arrived in a black limousine for the formal reception. As both leaders walked side by side, Tinubu momentarily stumbled, prompting officials nearby to step in immediately.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
Within seconds, the president regained his balance and continued the ceremony, showing no signs of distress. The event went on smoothly, with no interruption to the official programme.
During the welcome ceremony, a military band performed Nigeria’s national anthem, followed by Turkey’s anthem. Observers noted that President Erdogan gently used his hands to adjust Tinubu’s position, ensuring he faced the band correctly during the rendition.
President Tinubu departed Abuja on Monday to begin the Turkey state visit, which is aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between both countries.
According to presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the visit is designed to expand cooperation across multiple sectors.
“The visit is to strengthen existing cordial relations between the two countries and explore further areas of cooperation in security, education, social development, innovation, and aviation,” Onanuga said.
He added that discussions would also cover finance, communication, trade, and investment, describing the visit as part of the administration’s broader foreign policy drive.
The visit underscores the Tinubu administration’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties with strategic global partners, particularly in areas that support economic growth and national development.