President Bola Tinubu is expected back in Nigeria at the weekend after extending his working vacation abroad by a few days, the Presidency has announced.
The president left Nigeria on August 30 for London, where he began the vacation before proceeding to Paris a week later. In France, he held meetings with President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bollore, whose media group owns Canal+, Multichoice and Universal Music Group.
According to a statement issued Monday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu has remained actively engaged in governance throughout the trip, including 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.
During his absence, Vice President Kashim Shettima was delegated to represent the president at various official functions. Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 for New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who has also been standing in for the president at events, will continue to do so.
On the political front, the statement noted that the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, has been leading senior party figures in consultations with prominent traditional rulers across the country.
The Presidency also dismissed as irresponsible claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm led by an ex-convict, who had questioned Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly, insisting that Vice President Shettima’s attendance on the president’s behalf was in line with established practice.
