When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu once again packed his bags for France under the guise of a “10-day working vacation,” many Nigerians rolled their eyes. It wasn’t the trip itself that stung—it was the predictability of it. France again?

From his pre-election hideouts to his post-inauguration escapes, Paris has been Tinubu’s recurring destination. And while the presidency paints each visit as routine, Nigerians, weary from hardship at home, are left asking the uncomfortable question: what’s so special about France?

Here are five theories circulating across beer parlors, Twitter spaces, and political circles about why the president keeps choosing Paris over Abuja.

1. Health Reasons: Paris, The “Second Clinic”

Whispers about the president’s health have never really disappeared. For years, Paris has been linked to routine check-ups for African leaders who don’t trust their local hospitals. Tinubu himself has reportedly sought medical attention abroad in the past.

The theory goes: France is more than a vacation spot, it’s a clinic in disguise. Each “working visit” could also be a health stopover, tightly wrapped in diplomatic language. After all, no leader wants to look weak in the eyes of a struggling nation.

But the question remains: if our leaders can’t trust Nigerian hospitals, why should ordinary citizens?

2. Financial Interests: French Pockets, Nigerian Contracts

Another theory links Tinubu’s Paris trips to financial networks. France has strong corporate ties in Africa, from energy to construction. Many people suspect that business negotiations, hidden behind official schedules, are part of these visits.

Contracts with French multinationals may be sealed quietly while Nigerians are told the president is “resting.” It wouldn’t be the first time political and financial interests met on Parisian soil.

Could Paris be where Nigerian resources get mortgaged in exchange for elite comfort?

3. Political Cover: Safe Haven Away From The Noise

Abuja is noisy. Opposition parties breathe down Tinubu’s neck, citizens protest at every turn, and the press never stops asking questions.

France, on the other hand, offers insulation. No placards, no fuel queues, no bandit attacks, just quiet corridors for “consultations.” In Paris, Tinubu can breathe without being reminded of the crises back home.

This theory paints Paris as an escape hatch, a place where Nigeria’s president can reset his image away from domestic chaos.
But should leadership be about comfort or about confronting the mess at home?

4. Personal Comfort: Paris Feels Like Home

Sometimes the simplest theory is the truest. Maybe Tinubu just loves Paris. The art, the food, the luxury, it’s a far cry from the grinding realities of Abuja.

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For a man who fought decades to reach the presidency, maybe Paris is his idea of reward. Nigerians complain, but from his vantage point, Paris may feel like a personal haven, a city where power blends with pleasure.

But here’s the irony: while the president enjoys Parisian luxury, Nigerians wrestle with skyrocketing food prices and insecurity. Comfort for one, chaos for many.

5. Symbolism of Power: France as Africa’s Unofficial Capital

Finally, there’s the symbolic angle. France has long held influence over Africa, particularly Francophone countries. Some argue that by choosing Paris repeatedly, Tinubu is signaling alignment with Western power brokers who still pull strings in the continent.

It’s not just about croissants and cafés. It’s about legitimacy. Paris offers a stage where African leaders can appear “global,” shaking hands with French officials, reinforcing the old colonial hierarchy.

If true, this theory suggests Nigeria’s presidency is less about independence and more about validation from abroad.

The End Point

Whether it’s for health, wealth, comfort, cover, or symbolism, Tinubu’s Paris trips are raising questions that Nigerians can’t ignore. In a nation battered by hardship, every foreign trip feels like abandonment.

So the real issue isn’t just why Tinubu keeps going to France. It’s what Nigerians keep losing every time their leader chooses Paris over Abuja.

And until the presidency offers transparent answers, Nigerians will keep asking: is Tinubu truly leading Nigeria, or just ruling from France?