President Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs to “refuel” after months of intense engagement with the affairs of state, Presidential Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has said.

Dare said the President’s three-week annual vacation, which began on Sunday with his departure from Abuja for Europe, was “well deserved”, coming after six to seven months of what he described as intense government activity and “monumental” decisions on the economy, security and other critical areas of national development.

The presidential aide also linked the timing of the vacation to the commencement of political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying Tinubu would require renewed energy for what is expected to be several months of intensive campaigning.

The Presidency had earlier announced that Tinubu would spend three weeks in Europe as part of his annual leave, with London, United Kingdom, as his first destination.

He is expected to return to Nigeria after the working vacation to join the campaign activities ahead of the January 2027 elections.

Speaking to journalists after the President’s departure, Dare said the break should not be interpreted as a withdrawal from governance, stressing that Tinubu would continue to receive regular briefings on developments at home.

“So, the President is proceeding on a well-deserved leave, and I think that leave is well deserved,” Dare said.

“The President has had several months, six, seven months, of being engaged with state matters. We have seen monumental changes, monumental decisions taken with our security, with our economy and so many other things as they pertain to the running of the affairs of this country.”

He said the vacation had become necessary as the country entered what he described as a crucial political period, with only about four to five months of intensive campaigning ahead.

“At this point, the campaign season has just started. We have just four to five months of serious campaigning. Of course, governors will still continue, and at this point it is important that the government also refuels,” he said.

Dare, however, emphasised that Tinubu’s absence from the country would not translate into disengagement from the responsibilities of his office.

“Even though he’s going on leave, we know that he will be engaged with state matters on a daily basis,” he said, adding that the President would receive briefings from ministers, service chiefs and other officials handling critical government decisions.

The President’s vacation comes against the backdrop of an increasingly active political environment ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has already opened the campaign period, with political parties and their candidates stepping up mobilisation ahead of the polls.

Tinubu, who is seeking a second term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, is expected to face a competitive contest as opposition forces intensify their preparations for the election.

The timing of the President’s leave therefore places the break at the intersection of governance and politics, with the Presidency describing the trip as a working vacation and indicating that Tinubu would return to Nigeria to participate in the forthcoming campaign season.

The vacation also follows a similar break recently taken by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who resumed official duties on August 18 after an approved 12-day leave.

Shettima subsequently represented Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Luanda, Angola.

Dare’s comments effectively framed Tinubu’s leave not simply as a routine annual break but as an opportunity for the President to regain strength before entering an intense phase of political activity, while maintaining oversight of key national affairs.

The Presidency has not disclosed the full itinerary of the President’s European trip beyond identifying London as his first stop.