President Bola Tinubu suffered a physical stumble during an official state visit to Turkey on Tuesday, momentarily losing his footing while walking alongside his counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The incident occurred at the Presidential Complex in Ankara during a formal inspection of the guard of honor. As the two leaders proceeded across the ceremonial grounds, the 73-year-old Nigerian leader appeared to miss a step, tripping forward before being quickly assisted by his aides and members of the Turkish security detail.
In a video of the encounter that has since circulated widely on social media, President Erdogan is seen pausing and reaching out to ensure Tinubu’s stability. “Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, visiting Türkiye at the invitation of President Erdogan, tripped and fell on a carpet after the official welcome ceremony,” the video title reads.
VIDEO: Moment of Shock in Ankara as Tinubu Stumbles Beside Erdoğan During State Visit
Credit: X | Nefes Gazetesi pic.twitter.com/uHC9yFTffr
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The president regained his balance almost immediately and continued with the diplomatic proceedings, appearing to be uninjured.
The Presidency was quick to downplay the significance of the fall, describing it as a minor mishap during a busy diplomatic schedule.
The stumble comes amid ongoing public scrutiny in Nigeria regarding the veteran politician’s physical fitness, a topic that has been a point of contention since his 2023 election campaign. Despite these concerns, Tinubu has maintained a rigorous international travel schedule in recent months.
During the subsequent closed-door meeting, both leaders reportedly discussed enhanced cooperation in defense and energy. President Erdogan praised the “resilience of the Nigerian-Turkish partnership,” though he did not publicly reference the earlier slip
Official sources in Abuja maintained that the President’s itinerary remains unchanged. He is expected to conclude his three-day working visit on Thursday following a business forum with Turkish investors.
Nigeria and Turkey have seen a surge in bilateral trade over the last year, with Ankara becoming a key supplier of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and military hardware to the West African giant.
