Ankara, Turkey — Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu briefly tripped and fell on Tuesday, January 27, while walking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during an official welcome ceremony in Ankara, the capital of Turkey.
Footage circulating on social media shows the 73-year-old Nigerian leader losing his footing during the ceremonial march-past organised for him at the presidential palace. Security personnel and aides quickly moved in to help him back to his feet, and the programme continued without further incident.
The stumble occurred as Tinubu and President Erdoğan inspected a guard of honour. Officials later downplayed the moment, stressing that the Nigerian president was unhurt and continued with his planned engagements, including bilateral meetings.
Government Response and Reaction
The Nigerian Presidency dismissed health concerns arising from the incident, with presidential spokespersons describing the stumble as minor and unrelated to any medical issue. One aide said Tinubu may have stepped on a metal object on the floor, causing him to lose his balance briefly.
Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, reassured the public that Tinubu was “in great shape” and proceeded with scheduled talks, contributing to negotiations on expanding Nigeria-Turkey cooperation in areas like trade, defence, and investment.
Local and International Perspectives
While the event drew widespread attention on Nigerian social media, Turkish officials reportedly described the focus on the minor incident as “silly and mischievous,” noting that local media in Turkey largely did not highlight the moment. This was shared by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chair of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, after discussions with hosts in Ankara.
Despite the brief stumble, Tinubu’s state visit proceeded as planned, with discussions aimed at deepening diplomatic ties and boosting trade between Nigeria and Turkey.
