President Tinubu extends vacation by one week

President Bola Tinubu has extended his vacation by a few more days and is set to fly back into the country this coming weekend, the Presidency said in a statement on Monday.

The President had left Nigeria for London on August 30, after which he proceeded to Paris, France, for meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bollore.

In a statement, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu had remained in contact with developments in Nigeria and continued to direct the affairs of the country while away.

According to Onanuga, the President had issued several directives during his absence, including the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died after being detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna.

“President Tinubu will return to Nigeria at the weekend, following the extension of his working vacation by a few days,” the statement said.

During Tinubu’s absence, Vice President Kashim Shettima has represented him at some official engagements.

Shettima, however, left Abuja on September 20 for New York, where he is representing Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The general debate of the Assembly is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 22.

The Presidency said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who has also represented the President at some official events, would continue to do so.

It added that Shettima would represent Tinubu at the UN General Assembly and deliver Nigeria’s national statement.

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.

The Presidency also reacted to criticism of Tinubu’s absence from the United Nations General Assembly, describing as “irresponsible” what it called “baseless insinuation” by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm headed by an ex-convict.

The Presidency did not provide further details in the statement on the specific claims it was responding to.

Tinubu’s engagements in Paris included a meeting with Macron as well as discussions with Bolloré, whose business interests include media and entertainment companies.

The President is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend following the extension of his working vacation.