Nigerian President Bola Tinubu stumbled and fell during an official welcome ceremony in Turkey, sparking concerns about the 73-year-old leader’s health before his aides quickly assured the public he remained in good condition.
The Incident in Ankara
Tinubu was attending a formal reception with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara when he lost his balance while walking past a line of soldiers and dignitaries. Official video footage from the Turkish president’s social media account captured the moment Tinubu moved to his right, stumbled, and fell to the ground. People immediately rushed to help the Nigerian leader before the camera cut to an aerial view.
Within 45 seconds, both presidents appeared together again, with Tinubu showing no visible signs of injury. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga explained that Tinubu had stepped on a metal object on the floor, causing him to lose his balance. He downplayed the incident as a simple stumble rather than a serious fall.
Political Response and Reassurances
The incident drew sympathy from across Nigeria’s political spectrum, including from opposition leader Atiku Abubakar, who called it unfortunate. Politician Shehu Sani noted that the stumble demonstrated the president’s humanity. Presidential aide Sunday Dare took to social media with an all-caps headline emphasizing that Tinubu remained in excellent health as the state visit continued normally.
President Bola Tinubu convoy moving today in Abuja, Nigeria 🇳🇬 as he heads to the airport to fly out to the Republic of Türkiye. pic.twitter.com/AuQJRxyfcG
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) January 26, 2026
Diplomatic Success Despite Stumble
The brief mishap did not derail the diplomatic mission’s objectives. Turkey and Nigeria announced new economic, trade, and defense cooperation agreements during the visit. Both countries reaffirmed their goal of increasing bilateral trade to five billion dollars. Turkey also pledged support for Nigeria’s fight against militants and deeper collaboration in military training and intelligence sharing. Tinubu, who took office in 2023 after defeating Abubakar in the presidential election, emphasized Nigeria’s openness to partnerships that create shared prosperity.