President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his working vacation by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, the Presidency has announced.
The President departed Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin the working vacation and later proceeded to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
In a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu had remained in touch with developments at home and continued to direct the affairs of the nation throughout his stay abroad.
Onanuga said the President had, among other directives, ordered an independent panel to investigate the death of 37 illegal miners in Minna, Niger State, following their detention by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
While away, Tinubu had delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at some official functions.
Shettima, however, departed Abuja on September 20 for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is representing the President and is expected to present Nigeria’s national statement.
According to Onanuga, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who has also represented the President at official events, will continue in that role while the Vice President is away.
On the political front, Onanuga said the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, had been leading consultations with prominent traditional rulers across the country alongside other party leaders.
The statement also addressed criticism of the President’s decision not to attend the United Nations General Assembly in person. The Presidency described as “irresponsible” what it characterised as baseless insinuations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm concerning Tinubu’s absence from the global gathering.
The Presidency maintained that Shettima’s representation at the UN General Assembly ensured Nigeria would be represented at the high-level international forum, with the Vice President scheduled to deliver the country’s national statement.
Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend following the extension of his working vacation.
