Tinubu Arrives in Dubai on Brief Stopover En Route to Japan and Brazil

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for a brief stopover on his way to a two-nation working visit to Japan and Brazil. The President’s aircraft touched down at the Al-Maktoum International Airport in Dubai at approximately 10:10 PM on Friday, marking the first leg of his 12-day foreign trip.

The President’s departure from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja was slightly delayed from the initial schedule of Thursday, with the plane taking off on Friday morning at 11:15 AM.

According to a statement from the Presidency, the President is embarking on a working visit aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic ties with both countries. His first official destination is Yokohama, Japan, where he is scheduled to attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) from August 20 to 22.

The conference, which focuses on fostering high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and international partners, will see President Tinubu engaging in discussions on sustainable development, economic transformation, and private investment. On the sidelines of the summit, he is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with Japanese leaders and key business executives.

Following his engagements in Japan, the President will travel to Brazil for a two-day state visit, where he will meet with his counterpart, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, attend a business forum, and witness the signing of several bilateral agreements.

The trip has garnered a significant amount of public discourse, with opposition figures like Peter Obi criticizing its length and timing. Obi had previously described the planned trip as “insensitive” given the ongoing security and economic challenges facing the country, urging the President to prioritize domestic tours over foreign travels.