President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly resisted pressure from aides and associates urging him to give up smoking, despite mounting concern over his health.
According to a report by Sahara Reporters, sources close to the matter revealed that repeated interventions have been unsuccessful, as the President has remained adamant about continuing the habit.
Members of his inner circle are said to be worried about the potential health implications, but their efforts have yielded little progress.
“Tinubu’s smoking addiction is an issue. The President is still smoking, and despite efforts to get him to stop, he has refused,” one source told Sahara Reporters.
Concerns over the President’s wellbeing have grown in Nigeria. Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu has embarked on around 40 international trips, with some believed to be connected to medical reasons.
His frequent travels, especially to France and the UK, have sparked speculation, even though they are often described as “working trips” or “diplomatic engagements.” Critics claim some of these visits may have included medical consultations.
The Presidency has, however, issued occasional reassurances, insisting the President is “fit and capable.” But such assurances have not entirely silenced public doubts.
In August, Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga dismissed speculation, telling The ICIR that “people just tell you all kinds of rumours that have no basis at all” when asked about claims Tinubu was bedridden and absent from key state functions.
Earlier, in June, Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye, disclosed that Tinubu had undertaken 36 foreign trips since assuming office.
Providing a mid-term review of foreign policy, Enikanolaye listed destinations spanning Benin Republic, Chad, Ghana, Senegal, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, the Vatican, the United States, Brazil, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, and China.
