President Bola Ahmed Tinubu briefly stumbled on Tuesday during an official reception ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, an incident that was captured on video and widely circulated on social media.
The moment occurred during a ceremonial welcome organized by Turkish authorities as part of the President’s official visit to the country. Video footage shows President Tinubu momentarily losing his footing while walking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shortly after the parade held in his honour.
Another clip circulating online suggests the brief disruption was caused when a cameraman moved too close to the President as he walked. Tinubu quickly regained his balance, was assisted momentarily, and continued with the programme without further incident.
The stumble did not disrupt the ceremony, and officials at the event reported no injury or health concerns. The Presidency has not issued a formal statement on the incident. Observers noted that the President remained composed and went on to participate fully in the rest of the scheduled activities.
President Tinubu is in Turkey as part of Nigeria’s ongoing diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in trade, investment, defence cooperation and infrastructure development. Nigeria and Turkey have enjoyed long-standing diplomatic ties, with expanding collaboration in recent years.
Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu has embarked on several foreign visits focused on attracting investment, expanding economic partnerships and reinforcing Nigeria’s global diplomatic presence, with his administration prioritizing economic reforms, foreign direct investment and international cooperation.
The Ankara incident has drawn public attention online and recalls a similar moment during the June 12 Democracy Day celebrations in 2024, when the President briefly tripped while mounting an open-roof parade vehicle at Eagle Square, Abuja. On that occasion, his security aides quickly intervened, allowing the programme to continue uninterrupted.
Tinubu later addressed the 2024 incident humorously at a Democracy Day dinner, joking that observers were unsure whether he was dancing popular moves or performing a traditional Yoruba gesture of respect.
The President’s visit to Turkey is expected to continue with scheduled meetings with Turkish officials and engagements with business leaders, in line with Nigeria’s official itinerary.
