Nigerian government officials accompanying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his recent state visit to Türkiye have said local authorities in Ankara expressed surprise at the level of attention Nigerian media outlets gave to a brief moment in which the president stumbled during a ceremonial event. The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the reaction abroad as largely dismissive of the incident, emphasizing instead that the trip itself was viewed as diplomatically productive.
Speaking on Wednesday, January 28, Dabiri-Erewa addressed the issue while responding to commentary on the social media platform X from Nigerian public affairs commentator Oguntoye Opeyemi, also known online as Equityoyo. The exchange followed widespread online discussion in Nigeria after short video clips of the moment circulated across blogs and social platforms.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, Turkish officials she interacted with in Ankara indicated they were unaware that the president’s brief misstep had become a prominent talking point in Nigerian news cycles. She said some of the officials characterized the controversy as exaggerated and unnecessary, stressing that domestic media coverage in Türkiye largely concentrated on the diplomatic substance of the visit rather than the fleeting incident.
In her remarks, Dabiri-Erewa conveyed that Turkish counterparts repeatedly highlighted the broader outcomes of the trip, including cooperation agreements and high-level engagements between both countries’ leadership. She added that from the Turkish perspective, the visit was being framed as a success in strengthening bilateral relations and expanding areas of partnership.
Opeyemi, whose online post prompted Dabiri-Erewa’s response, similarly observed that the stumble received little to no coverage in Türkiye’s mainstream television broadcasts. He noted that Turkish news channels appeared more focused on the ceremonial welcome, official meetings, and policy discussions rather than the short clip that later gained traction among Nigerian audiences.
The incident itself occurred during a ceremonial guard of honour held at a parade ground in Ankara on Tuesday. Video footage shows President Tinubu walking beside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan before momentarily losing balance as he stepped forward. Security personnel nearby quickly steadied him, and the ceremony proceeded without interruption. No injuries were reported, and the event continued as scheduled.
Clips of the moment were first circulated by a Turkish digital news outlet and subsequently reposted on social media platforms, where they drew varied reactions ranging from concern to satire. The rapid spread of the footage illustrates the growing influence of short-form video and social media algorithms in shaping political narratives, particularly when visual moments are easily shared and detached from their broader context.
Beyond the brief incident, officials on both sides highlighted the strategic goals of Tinubu’s visit, which marked his first official trip to Türkiye since assuming office. The agenda included discussions on defence cooperation, trade expansion, investment opportunities, energy partnerships, media collaboration, and scientific and technological exchange. Government sources indicated that memoranda of understanding and exploratory talks were part of the meetings, with both countries seeking to deepen economic ties and diversify areas of cooperation.
Analysts note that Nigeria and Türkiye have in recent years pursued closer commercial and security relationships, with trade volumes gradually increasing and Turkish firms showing interest in infrastructure and construction projects across West Africa. Diplomatic visits of this nature typically serve to reaffirm political goodwill, encourage private-sector engagement, and set the framework for future agreements.
Dabiri-Erewa’s comments underscore a recurring tension between domestic media focus on symbolic or visual moments and the longer-term diplomatic objectives of international visits. While short clips can dominate online discourse, officials involved in state engagements often stress policy outcomes and institutional partnerships as the more consequential measures of success.
In this instance, Nigerian and Turkish authorities alike indicated that the ceremonial stumble did not affect the scheduled programs or negotiations. The visit concluded with continued expressions of mutual interest in cooperation, suggesting that despite the viral attention surrounding a few seconds of footage, the primary emphasis from both governments remained on diplomatic and economic collaboration.
Source: Africa Publicity
