President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation by a few days and is now expected to return to Nigeria this weekend.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London, where he began the working vacation. After spending a week in the United Kingdom, he travelled to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bollore, whose business interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
Despite being away from the country, Tinubu has continued to direct the affairs of government, including ordering an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna.
The President also delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at several official engagements.
Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 for New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he is representing the President.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, will also continue to represent Tinubu at some official functions.
On the political front, the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, has been leading consultations with prominent traditional rulers across the country alongside other party leaders.
The Presidency, in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described as irresponsible the claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm over Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly.
The statement said Shettima, who is representing the President at the global gathering, would deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
