A video showing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu briefly collapsing during a ceremonial reception in Turkey has quickly gone viral on social media, sparking widespread discussion and concern both in Nigeria and internationally.
The incident took place on Tuesday as President Tinubu participated in the formal guard of honour and march-past that was organized in his honour by the Turkish government. Observers noted that while the president momentarily lost his footing, he immediately regained composure and continued with the proceedings, allowing the ceremony to proceed smoothly without further interruption.
Video Sparks Reactions Online
The short clip circulated rapidly on social media platforms, drawing attention from both Nigerian citizens and Turkish audiences. Many users commented on the president’s health and well-being, while others focused on the professionalism displayed in quickly regaining balance.
Turkish media outlets also reported on the incident, with one captioning the video: “Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan’ın karşıladığı Nijerya Cumhurbaşkanı Bola Ahmed Tinubu yere düştü,” which translates to, “Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu fell while being welcomed by President Erdoğan.”
Visit Focused on Strengthening Nigeria–Turkey Ties
President Tinubu’s ongoing visit to Türkiye is reported to have a primary focus on reinforcing the long-standing diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and Turkey. The visit is seen as a strategic opportunity to explore new avenues of bilateral cooperation that can benefit both nations, including trade partnerships, investment opportunities, and security collaborations.
Officials have emphasized that despite the brief stumble, the president remains fully engaged in the diplomatic agenda and continues to participate actively in all scheduled activities during the visit.
Bilateral Talks With President Erdoğan
As part of the state visit, President Tinubu is expected to hold high-level bilateral discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. These talks are anticipated to focus on key areas such as trade agreements, investment initiatives, regional security collaboration, and broader economic cooperation between the two countries.
The meetings aim to foster stronger diplomatic ties, encourage mutual economic growth, and provide a platform for joint ventures in sectors of strategic interest to both nations.
[b]MOUs and High-Level Engagements
In addition to bilateral discussions, the program of the visit will feature the signing of several memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between Nigeria and Türkiye. These agreements are expected to cover diverse sectors, including commerce, education, technology, and security cooperation. The signing of these MOUs underscores the commitment of both governments to deepen bilateral collaboration and strengthen strategic partnerships across multiple areas.
Officials also highlighted that the president’s itinerary includes engagement with various Turkish business leaders and officials to explore investment opportunities that could further enhance economic relations between the two countries.
See below;
Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan'ın karşıladığı Nijerya Cumhurbaşkanı Bola Ahmed Tinubu yere düştü pic.twitter.com/sxpgNBhtBM
— Nefes Gazetesi (@nefesgazete) January 27, 2026