President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has allegedly resisted persistent pressure from close aides and associates urging him to give up smoking.
According to Sahara Reporters, individuals close to the matter revealed that despite repeated interventions, the President has remained unwilling to stop.
“Tinubu’s smoking addiction is an issue. The President is still smoking, and despite efforts to get him to stop, he has refused,” a source told the outlet.
Concerns within his inner circle have grown over the potential health risks. Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu has embarked on about 40 foreign trips, many officially described as diplomatic engagements, though some are believed to have included medical consultations.
The Presidency has repeatedly dismissed speculation over his health. In August, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said: “People just tell you all kinds of rumours that have no basis at all,” when asked about reports that the President had been bedridden for days and absent from state functions.
In June, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, confirmed that Tinubu had undertaken 36 trips since taking office, covering Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas.
Destinations have included France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, Brazil, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, India, and China, among others.
Public speculation over Tinubu’s frequent travels and his health has, however, persisted despite official reassurances that he is “fit and capable.”
