For a brief moment in Ankara on Tuesday, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave the internet exactly what it likes. Then, almost immediately, he gave diplomats what they prefer far more: business as usual.
President Tinubu, 73, was being welcomed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at an official reception ceremony when he briefly lost his balance while walking past a guard of honour. The moment was captured in official footage shared by the Turkish presidency, showing aides stepping in quickly before the programme moved on.
Within minutes, the focus had shifted away from optics and back to diplomacy.
Presidential aides confirmed that the president was unharmed and continued with his scheduled bilateral meetings. One aide described him as being “in great shape,” while another explained that the president had stepped on a metal object on the floor, causing the brief stumble.
“It was a mere stumble, not a fall,” the spokesperson said.
As we say back home, ba komai. Nothing serious happened.
Online, the video clips travelled fast. They always do. But inside the meeting rooms in Ankara, attention remained firmly on the substance of the visit.
Following talks between both leaders, Turkey announced new agreements with Nigeria covering economic cooperation, trade, and defence. President Erdoğan said both countries had reaffirmed a target of increasing bilateral trade to five billion dollars. Turkey also pledged deeper collaboration in military training and intelligence sharing, as Nigeria continues its fight against militant groups.
President Tinubu later struck a confident tone, describing Nigeria as open to serious partnerships, trade, and investment that create shared prosperity.
This was not the first time the president has stumbled in public. In June 2024, a similar moment drew attention, though Tinubu later joked about it, suggesting observers thought he was attempting a dance move. That episode attracted sympathy across political lines, with many noting that even presidents occasionally miss a step. Mutum ne fa. He is human.
In Ankara, however, the stumble lasted seconds. The agreements signed may last years.
And judging by the pace of the visit, Nigeria’s delegation made it clear that the trip was about diplomacy, not drama.