President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation by a few days and will return to Nigeria at the weekend, the Presidency announced on Sunday.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin the vacation. After spending a week in London, he proceeded to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose media group includes Canal+, Multichoice, and Universal Music Group.
Onanuga said that since beginning the vacation, President Tinubu has remained in constant touch with home and continued to direct the affairs of the nation. This includes ordering an independent panel to investigate the death of 37 illegal miners in Minna following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
While away, the President delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at official functions. Although Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who has also been representing the President, will continue to do so. On the political front, the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, has been leading consultations with prominent traditional rulers alongside notable party leaders.
The Presidency dismissed as irresponsible what it described as baseless insinuations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm headed by an ex-convict regarding President Tinubu’s non-attendance at UNGA. It confirmed that Vice President Shettima, who is representing the President at the global conference, will present Nigeria’s national statement.
