By Ali Elias
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday missed his footing and fell during an official reception ceremony in Türkiye, an incident that drew momentary attention but did not disrupt the programme.
The incident occurred at a parade ground during a ceremonial march-past organised in honour of the Nigerian leader, who was received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. A guard of honour had been mounted as part of the formal welcome.
Eyewitness accounts and a video that later went viral on social media showed President Tinubu walking alongside President Erdoğan when he momentarily lost his balance and fell to the ground. Security personnel and aides, including members of the presidential protective detail, swiftly moved in to assist him.
President Tinubu was quickly helped back on his feet and appeared composed as the ceremony continued without interruption. Observers at the event said the Nigerian leader promptly resumed his position, and the guard of honour proceeded as planned.
The brief stumble sparked widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians sharing and commenting on the footage across social media platforms. Some commentators described the incident as minor and inconsequential, noting that such slips can occur during tightly choreographed ceremonial events, particularly on unfamiliar terrain. Others attributed it to old age or health condition.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been issued by the Presidency regarding the incident. There was also no indication that the President sustained any injury.
President Tinubu is in Türkiye on an official engagement aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and the Turkish Republic. Such state visits typically feature ceremonial welcomes, bilateral meetings, and discussions on trade, investment, defence cooperation, and regional issues.
Political analysts note that while the incident briefly dominated online discourse, it had no bearing on the substance of the visit, which is expected to focus on deepening cooperation between both countries across strategic sectors.
The ceremony concluded smoothly, with the officials saying the unfortunate incident did not affect the President’s schedule or the objectives of his visit.