ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, the Presidency said on Monday.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin the vacation.
After spending a week in London, the President proceeded to Paris, France, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bollore, whose business interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
The Presidency said Tinubu had remained in touch with developments in Nigeria throughout his absence and continued to direct the affairs of the country.
It cited the President’s order for an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 illegal miners in Minna following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as one of the actions taken while he was away.
Tinubu also delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at some official engagements.
Shettima, who left Abuja on September 20 for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, is representing the President at the global conference and is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
The Presidency said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who has also represented the President at official events, would continue to do so.
On the political front, it said the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Abubakar Yari, had been leading consultations with prominent traditional rulers across the country.
The Presidency also dismissed as irresponsible what it described as insinuations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm regarding Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly.
The statement was signed by Onanuga and dated September 21, 2026.
