Tinubu Continued Talks With Erdoğan After Misstep, Says Presidential Aide

President Bola Tinubu has continued bilateral talks with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Erdoğan, despite a misstep in Turkey.

“Mr President missed his step very briefly and has continued his bilateral meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

“A live press conference is happening immediately after the bilateral,” the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, wrote in a post on his X handle.

Mr President missed his step very briefly and has continued his Bilateral meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. A live press conference is happening immediately after the bilateral. https://t.co/OW56c79k7b pic.twitter.com/KQTc0cwVV9

— Daddy D.O (@DOlusegun) January 27, 2026

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan address a joint press conference after the Bi-Lateral talks in Ankara, Turkiye pic.twitter.com/f4hdyuZLAc

— Daddy D.O (@DOlusegun) January 27, 2026

A trending video had captured the moment President Tinubu stumbled during a welcome ceremony in Ankara, the Turkish capital, raising concerns about the Nigerian leader.

While walking alongside Erdoğan, President Tinubu appeared to have missed his step but was quickly assisted by officials, helping him regain his balance.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said his principal immediately proceeded from the ceremonial reception to scheduled bilateral meetings with President Erdogan and other senior government officials.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Arrives In Türkiye For State Visit

“President Tinubu, after a stately welcome ceremony in Ankara, proceeded to scheduled bilateral meetings with the President of Türkiye and other senior government officials from both countries,” he stated.

PRESIDENT TINUBU IN GREAT SHAPE AS STATE VISIT PROCEEDS SMOOTHLY President Tinubu after a stately welcome ceremony in Ankara proceeded to scheduled bilateral meetings with President of Turkey and other senior government officials from both countries. ⁦@officialABAT⁩ ⁦ pic.twitter.com/CLI9bEF6rO

— Sunday Dare,CON (@SundayDareSD) January 27, 2026

Tinubu had arrived at the Turkish presidential palace with a black limousine car.

Immediately after he alighted from the car, the military band played Nigeria’s national anthem, which was followed by the Turkish national anthem.

On Monday, the president departed Abuja for the state visit to the European country.

The visit is meant to strengthen the “existing cordial relations between the two countries and explore further areas of cooperation in security, education, social development, innovation, and aviation”.

Finance, communication, trade and investment would dominate political and diplomatic discussions between both countries during Tinubu’s visit.