President Bola Ahmed Tinubu briefly lost his footing during a ceremonial reception in Ankara on Tuesday, prompting widespread online attention — but the Nigerian Presidency has moved swiftly to dismiss any concerns about his health, describing the incident as minor and unrelated to any medical condition.
The moment occurred as Mr. Tinubu participated in an official welcome ceremony with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to mark the start of his state visit to Türkiye, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and deepening economic, defense, and diplomatic cooperation.
Video footage circulating on social media shows the Nigerian leader momentarily stumbling on a blue carpet at the parade ground and losing his balance. He quickly regained his footing and the programme continued without disruption. Watch video of fall below:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/768901192921415/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v
In an official response, the Presidency attributed the mishap to an unevenly laid carpet at the venue rather than any health issue. Presidential aides stressed that the President recovered immediately and continued with his schedule, including high-level bilateral talks with Turkish officials.
“President Tinubu has since resumed his official engagements and remains fully active,” a statement said, noting that a joint press conference with Turkish counterparts is expected to follow ongoing discussions.
The Presidency also reiterated that the Nigerian leader remains “hale and hearty” with no underlying health concerns, urging Nigerians to disregard online speculations and unfounded rumours.
The incident adds to a series of similar brief stumbles by Mr. Tinubu in public events that have previously sparked commentary, though none have led to confirmed health issues.
Meanwhile, the state visit has continued as planned, with discussions centred on expanding trade, investment, and defense cooperation between Nigeria and Türkiye.
