President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called off his planned trip to the United States and will instead travel to South Africa to participate in the upcoming G-20 Summit, where he is also expected to meet with former U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
This development follows days of speculation about the President’s next foreign engagement amid growing global attention on security concerns and diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the United States.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, said Tinubu’s change of plans was strategic and aimed at fostering wider global partnerships through the G-20 platform.
Bwala explained that the South Africa visit would offer Nigeria an opportunity to engage with world powers on pressing economic and security matters. He confirmed that a bilateral meeting between Tinubu and Trump is expected to take place during the summit.
“The G-20 provides an inclusive stage for global discussions, and President Tinubu intends to use the platform to strengthen cooperation against terrorism and clarify misconceptions about Nigeria’s internal security challenges,” Bwala stated.
Trump had recently drawn international attention after accusing Nigeria of failing to protect Christians and threatening to halt U.S. aid to the country if such killings continued. The former U.S. leader even hinted at possible military intervention — a statement that provoked mixed reactions worldwide.
Tinubu’s forthcoming meeting with Trump is expected to address those controversial remarks, as well as explore broader counterterrorism cooperation between both sides.
Reactions to the President’s decision to skip the U.S. trip have been divided. While some observers hailed the move as a smart diplomatic recalibration, others criticized the administration for inconsistency in its foreign policy direction.
A senior political analyst, Dr. Ifeanyi Eze, told reporters that “Tinubu’s presence at the G-20 could enhance Nigeria’s global standing, but the choice to meet Trump must be handled with tact to avoid diplomatic friction.”
As the G-20 Summit draws near, expectations remain high over what outcomes Nigeria can secure from the gathering — especially in trade, energy, and global security collaboration.
