Billionaire businessman Femi Otedola has triggered widespread reactions online after sharing a photograph from a private dinner with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Paris, France, while restricting replies to the post on X.
Otedola, Chairman of First HoldCo Plc, shared the photograph on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, following the dinner with Tinubu on Monday evening. In the post, he praised the President’s economic reforms and said they had placed Nigeria on a path of sustainable growth.
Key Highlights
- Femi Otedola shared a photograph of his private dinner with President Bola Tinubu in Paris.
- Otedola praised Tinubu’s economic reforms and described them as putting Nigeria on a path of sustainable growth.
- He cited the performance of the NGX, foreign investment, the foreign exchange market and foreign reserves.
- Otedola restricted replies to his X post, prompting Nigerians to react across social media.
- Some users jokingly called on the businessman to reopen the comment section.
- The post generated debate over economic reforms and the cost-of-living situation in Nigeria.
- Tinubu ended his European working vacation on Tuesday and departed Paris for Nigeria.
Femi Otedola Praises Tinubu’s Economic Reforms
In his post, Otedola described Tinubu’s reforms as “bold and forward-thinking” and said they had put the Nigerian economy on a path of sustainable growth.
The businessman pointed to several economic indicators that he said showed improving investor confidence.
Among them were the inclusion of Nigerian companies in the FTSE Russell Frontier 50 Index, strong performance on the Nigerian Exchange, increased foreign direct investment, greater stability in the foreign exchange market and foreign reserves of about $55 billion.
Otedola concluded his message by expressing his support for the President, saying he remained proud of him.
Nigerians React After Otedola Restricts Comments
The decision to restrict replies to the post quickly became a subject of discussion online.
Some Nigerians joked about wanting access to the comment section, with posts and memes calling on Otedola to reopen replies.
Others questioned the decision to restrict comments after a public endorsement of Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly at a time when Nigerians continue to debate the impact of the government’s reforms on household incomes and living costs.
The reaction to the post therefore centred on both Otedola’s message and his decision to limit public responses.
Why Otedola’s Tinubu Post Drew Attention
The photograph and accompanying statement came as Tinubu concluded an extended working vacation in Europe.
The President left Nigeria on August 30 and spent time in London before travelling to Paris, where he held several engagements, including meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and business leaders.
His prolonged stay abroad had attracted public discussion before his return to Nigeria on Tuesday.
Against that backdrop, Otedola’s photograph showing him with the President at a private dinner in Paris generated additional attention.
Read also:
- Tinubu Returns To Nigeria, Heads To Lagos For Independence Day, MKO Abiola Tribute
- Femi Otedola’s Aggressive Accumulation of First HoldCo Shares, Crosses 25% Of Nigeria’s Oldest Bank Acquisition
- CBN Says Foreign Reserves Rise Above $52.5bn, Hits 17-Year High
Debate Over Tinubu’s Economic Reforms
Otedola’s comments have also renewed debate over the economic indicators cited by supporters of the Tinubu administration.
Supporters of the government’s reforms have pointed to developments in the capital market, foreign exchange market, foreign investment and external reserves as signs of improving economic conditions.
Critics, however, have argued that improvements in some macroeconomic indicators have yet to translate into sufficient relief for households facing high food prices and other cost-of-living pressures.
The competing views have remained central to public debate over the impact of the administration’s economic policies.
Tinubu Leaves Paris for Nigeria
The controversy surrounding Otedola’s post came on the same day Tinubu concluded his European working vacation and departed Paris for Nigeria.
According to the Presidency, Tinubu was expected to arrive in Lagos before continuing his engagements in Nigeria. He is also scheduled to participate in activities marking Nigeria’s Independence Day on October 1.
As of Tuesday, Otedola had not publicly explained his decision to restrict replies to the post.
The photograph and his comments about Tinubu’s economic reforms continued to generate discussion across X and other social media platforms.
For more updates on this and other developing stories, follow us on X.
