President Tinubu

Author: Gist Correspondent

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.

The Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London, where he began a three-week working vacation before travelling to Paris after a week. In France, he held meetings with President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose business interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.

Despite his absence from the country, the Presidency said Tinubu had remained in contact with officials at home and continued to direct government affairs.

It cited his recent directive for an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 illegal miners in Minna following their detention by personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

During the vacation, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, have represented the President at various official engagements.

Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to represent Tinubu and present Nigeria’s national statement.

The Presidency also dismissed claims by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and a US-based lobbying firm concerning Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly, describing the insinuations as baseless and irresponsible.

It added that Shettima’s representation at the global gathering was in line with the President’s arrangements.