President Tinubu extends his working vacation abroad by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his working vacation abroad by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, the Presidency has announced.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin his working vacation before moving to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said Tinubu had remained in contact with developments at home and continued to direct the affairs of government while abroad.
Among the actions attributed to the President during his absence was the directive for an independent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State. The Federal Government subsequently constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths.
While Tinubu has been away, Vice President Kashim Shettima has represented him at some official functions.
Shettima left Abuja on September 20 for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he is representing the President and will present Nigeria’s national statement.
With Shettima at the UNGA, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who has also represented the President at official events, will continue to do so during Tinubu’s absence.
The Presidency also said that, on the political front, the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, had been leading senior party leaders in consultations with prominent traditional rulers across the country.
The statement also addressed comments concerning President Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly. The Presidency described what it called insinuations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm regarding the President’s non-attendance as irresponsible.
The Presidency reiterated that Vice President Shettima is representing Tinubu at the global gathering and will deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
The President’s return is expected at the weekend, although the Presidency did not specify the exact date of his arrival.
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