President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation 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, where he began his working vacation before travelling to Paris, France, after spending a week in the United Kingdom.
While in Paris, the President held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose media interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
In a statement issued on Monday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu had remained in constant communication with officials in Nigeria and continued to direct the affairs of government despite his absence from the country.
According to the Presidency, Tinubu has taken several decisions during the trip, including ordering an independent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Minna following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The Presidency also said the President had delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at several official engagements during his absence.
Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is representing Tinubu and is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
With the Vice President currently in New York, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who has also represented the President at official functions, will continue to perform that role, the Presidency said.
Presidency Responds to Atiku
On the political front, the Presidency said the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, has been leading consultations involving senior party leaders and prominent traditional rulers across the country.
The Presidency also responded to comments by former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who questioned Tinubu’s absence from the United Nations General Assembly and called for an explanation.
The Presidency dismissed Atiku’s comments, as well as similar remarks from a United States-based lobbying firm, describing them as “baseless insinuation” and irresponsible.
“Vice President Shettima, who is representing the President at the global conference, will present Nigeria’s national statement,” the statement said.
The Presidency maintained that Tinubu had continued to discharge his responsibilities as President despite being away from Nigeria and would return to the country at the weekend.
