The Presidency has dismissed speculations about the health of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following reports that he was bedridden and being considered for urgent medical evacuation abroad.

The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) had quoted sources alleging that the President had been indisposed for several days, resulting in his absence from key state functions. Vice President, Kashim Shettima has represented him at some official engagements in recent days.

The report further claimed that several of Tinubu’s scheduled activities were cancelled, with the remainder of his weekly agenda cleared to allow his medical team to closely monitor his condition.

However, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the claims as baseless.

“People just tell you all kinds of rumours that have no basis at all. He was in his office yesterday (August 5). I was with him. I went to see him. He came to work,” Onanuga told ICIR.

Speaking later to Daily Trust, he insisted nothing was wrong with the President.

“There is nothing wrong with the president, he is okay. He can choose to work from home. He can choose to work from anywhere. I tell you nothing is wrong with the president,” he said.

According to ICIR, Tinubu was last seen in public on Friday, August 1, at the opening of the Progressive Media Summit, where he encouraged young Nigerians in the digital space to utilise their platforms for national progress.

Days earlier, on July 29, the President hosted the victorious Super Falcons at the Presidential Villa after their triumph at the WAFCON in Morocco. He congratulated the players and coaches, standing for an extended period while announcing generous rewards.

However, his absence at a similar reception for the D’Tigress on August 3, where Shettima stood in, raised fresh questions.

Despite his absence from public events, the presidency has continued to release official statements. On August 6, Tinubu directed the rollout of free healthcare for low-income retirees and an increase in pensions.

The accompanying photograph with PenCom DG Omolola Oloworaran was taken days earlier at the President’s private residence, not his office.

That same day, the President issued a condolence message to Ghana over the death of Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and others in a tragic air crash.

ICIR also reported that the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting was not held last week, further fueling speculation.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had told reporters last Thursday that the next FEC meeting would be held on August 6.

The ICIR gathered that the ministers and members of the council had been reached to inform them of ...ponement, as none of them came around the villa during the usual hours of the meeting.

Onanuga had clarified that no FEC was scheduled for Monday, while the session on Wednesday was postponed by the President.

He said, “Yes, he postponed it. It’s not an issue. There is no certain time for FEC. The FEC meeting can be held on Monday, it can be held on Wednesday. It can be held on a Thursday.”

The ICIR investigations revealed that several high-level meetings were quietly shelved. Among them was a scheduled engagement with close associates of former President Muhammadu Buhari within the All Progressives Congress (APC), initially set for the afternoon of Tuesday, August 5. The meeting was abruptly cancelled.

When asked why Tinubu skipped the D’Tigress event, Onanuga had told the ICIR, “Why must he be at all functions? Is it compulsory he must be at all functions? He has a deputy. He can delegate.”

On his lack of public appearances, he said, “I said he was in the office yesterday (August 5). I was with him. Do you want him to be doing a public parade or something?”