President Bola Ahmed Tinubu briefly stumbled and fell on Tuesday during an official welcome ceremony in Ankara, Türkiye, sparking momentary concern over his health while on a state visit.
The incident occurred as President Tinubu, 73, was being formally received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Complex, shortly after he had walked past a guard of honour and assembled dignitaries.
The moment, which was captured on camera during the ceremony, quickly attracted attention on social media and within diplomatic circles.
Reacting swiftly, the Presidency moved to allay fears, insisting that the President is in good health and fully capable of carrying out his official duties. According to a statement from the Presidency, the stumble was not health-related but was caused by a poorly laid blue carpet at the ceremony venue.
“The President is very fine,” the Presidency said, adding that President Tinubu resumed his scheduled activities immediately after the incident.
It was further disclosed that the Nigerian leader proceeded to bilateral talks with Turkish authorities as planned and was expected to jointly address a press conference with President Erdogan following the meeting.
President Tinubu is currently in Türkiye on a state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and the Republic of Turkey, with discussions focusing on trade, investment, security cooperation, and bilateral relations.
The Presidency reiterated that the President remains fully engaged in his programme and urged the public to disregard speculation surrounding the brief incident.
