President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has continued his diplomatic engagements with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, despite a minor stumble during his arrival in Ankara.
According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, the Nigerian leader quickly resumed his scheduled bilateral talks following the brief incident. “Mr President missed his step very briefly and has continued his bilateral meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. A live press conference is happening immediately after the bilateral,” Olusegun wrote on X.
A video circulating online showed President Tinubu appearing to misstep while walking alongside Erdoğan during the official welcome ceremony, prompting officials to assist him in regaining his balance. The Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, confirmed that the president immediately proceeded to the planned bilateral discussions with Erdoğan and other senior Turkish officials.
Tinubu arrived at the Turkish presidential palace in a black limousine, greeted by a military band playing the Nigerian national anthem, followed by Turkey’s national anthem.
The state visit, which began with his departure from Abuja on Monday, aims to strengthen the longstanding cordial relations between Nigeria and Türkiye, while exploring opportunities for cooperation across security, education, social development, innovation, and aviation.
Political and diplomatic talks during the visit are expected to focus heavily on finance, communication, trade, and investment, highlighting both countries’ commitment to deepening economic and strategic ties.
