By our reporters
THERE is growing concern over the health of President Bola Tinubu, with credible sources confirming to The ICIR that preparations are underway by his medical team to potentially fly him abroad for urgent medical attention. However, the presidency has dismissed these concerns, describing them as mere “rumours.”
According to information gathered by The ICIR, the President has reportedly been bedridden for several days, resulting in his absence from key state functions. In his stead, Vice President Kashim Shettima has represented the Presidency at some official engagements.
An Aso Rock insider revealed to The ICIR that several of President Tinubu’s scheduled activities have been cancelled since the beginning of the week. It is also believed that the remainder of his weekly agenda has been cleared to allow his medical team to monitor his condition closely.
Responding to inquiries, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, told The ICIR that “people just tell you all kinds of rumours that have no basis at all.”
He insisted that the president was working. “He was in his office yesterday (August 5). I was with him. I went to see him. He came to work.”
Tinubu’s last known public appearance
President Tinubu’s was last seen publicly on Friday, August 1, where he attended the opening of the Progressive Media Summit, themed “Unveiling the Critical Role of New Media in National Development.” He appeared healthy during the event, where he encouraged young Nigerians in the digital media space to leverage their platforms for national progress.
Days earlier, on July 29, the president led the reception for the Super Falcons upon their return to Nigeria after a remarkable victory at the WAFCON Championship in Morocco. The president stood for an extended period, personally congratulating the team before announcing generous rewards for both players and their coaches. The rewards stirred public debate and critcism from some quarters.
His absence at a similar reception for the victorious D’Tigress team on August 3 raised questions, especially as Vice President Shettima stood in for him at the event.
Despite the President’s absence, the presidency has continued issuing official statements. One such release on August 6 announced Tinubu’s directive for the rollout of free healthcare for low-income retirees and an increase in pensions. The release included a photograph of the President with the Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Omolola Oloworaran, though it did not specify when the meeting occurred.
The ICIR investigation revealed that the meeting had taken place days earlier before it was sent out as a press release at the President’s private residence, not his office. Onanuga later confirmed this
On the same day, another press release conveyed Tinubu’s condolences to Ghana following a tragic air crash that claimed the lives of the Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and several others.
Onanuga told The ICIR that Tinubu personally called and asked for the condolence to be sent.
“Even today (August 6), We issued a press release about Ghana. He (Tinubu) called me from the house and said something has happened in Ghana, I didn’t even know. He said I should issue a statement. He was the one that called me hismelf,” Onanuga said.
Weekly FEC meeting fails to hold
The ICIR investigation also revealed that the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting has failed to hold this week, either on Monday or Wednesday, as has been the tradition since the inauguration of the current ministers.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had hinted to state house correspondents last Thursday that the next meeting would hold Wednesday, August 6.
The ICIR gathered that the ministers and members of council had been reached to inform them of the postponement as none of them came around the villa around the usual hours of the meeting.
Onanuga clarified that no FEC was scheduled for Monday, while Wednesday’s session was postponed by the President.
“Yes, he postponed it. It’s not an issue,” he said.
He explained that, “There is no certain time for FEC. The FEC meeting can be held on Monday, it can be held on Wednesday. It can be held on a Thursday.”
Tinubu’s discreet work style or health decline?
Following the August 1 media event, Tinubu has not made any public appearances. His absence during D’Tigress championship celebration and the cancellation of several high-level meetings have fueled speculation about a possible health decline.
The ICIR investigations revealed that several high-level meetings were quietly shelved. Among them was a scheduled engagement with close associates of former President Muhammadu Buhari within the All Progressives Congress (APC), originally set for the afternoon of Tuesday, August 5. The meeting was abruptly cancelled.
When asked why Tinubu skipped the D’Tigress event, Onanuga responded, “Why must he be at all functions? Is it compulsory he must me at all functions? He has a deputy. He can delegate.”
On his lack of public appearances, he said, “I said he was in the office yesterday (August 5). I was with him. Do you want him to be doing public parade or something?”
Absence responsible for silence surrounding NNPC’s leadership
Speculation has for a while also surrounded the fate of Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), who was appointed by Tinubu in early April.
Reports suggest that Ojulari may have resigned, but the presidency and NNPCL have remained silent on the matter. Efforts to confirm or deny the reports with the Presidency have yielded no response.
A senior presidency official, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated that the matter did not fall under the remit of the Presidential Villa and advised journalists to reach out directly to NNPCL. However, attempts to contact NNPCL were also unsuccessful.
A source said that while the resignation rumors might indeed be true, the final confirmation depends on President Tinubu, who, due to his current health, has been unable to make any decisions.
Tinubu’s medical trips to france: a pattern of concern
Since taking office in 2023, President Tinubu has made frequent trips to France, sparking ongoing concerns about the transparency surrounding his health. He has reportedly spent over 50 days in France across several visits, often described as private or working trips.
- June 2023: Attended the New Global Financial Pact Summit in Paris, spending around 4–5 days
- January 2024: Tinubu took a 14-day private trip to France, returning to Nigeria in early February.
- August 2024: He took another brief trip to France, returning after four days.
- October 2024: In early October, Tinubu travelled to the UK for a two-week working vacation as part of his annual leave. Reports indicate that during this time, he also traveled to France.
November 2024: Three‑day state visit at Macron’s invitation, during which business and infrastructure agreements were signed; total stay about 5 days
February 2025: Officially described as a private visit en route to Addis Ababa for AU meetings; stayed around 7–8 days
April 2025: Two‑week working visit with time also spent in London; stay around 14 -19 days.
Click to view The ICIR President Tinubu travel tracker
A nation on edge awaits clarity
As Nigerians await clearer updates on the President’s health, the political and economic implications of his continued absence remain uncertain. The frequency of his medical trips and the current lack of public appearances only add to the growing concerns over his leadership and the transparency of his administration.
Onanuga maintains that the President is working. “He is working. Tinubu has a different style of working. Sometimes he works from home. in fact he does more work from home than even in the office”.
“Whoever is raising the concerns is spreading rumours”.
Read The ICIR series on Tinubu’s two years in office HERE.