President Tinubu Extends Working Vacation

President Bola Tinubu’s working vacation has been extended by a few days, with the Presidency confirming he will now return to Nigeria over the weekend.

The President departed Nigeria on August 30, first heading to London where he spent a week before continuing on to Paris, France, to carry on his working vacation.

While in Paris, Tinubu held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bollore, whose media holdings span Canal+, Multichoice, and Universal Music Group.

A statement released Monday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, indicated that Tinubu had stayed engaged with domestic affairs throughout his trip and continued overseeing government business from abroad.

Per the statement, one of the actions Tinubu took while away was ordering an independent panel to probe the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Minna, who died after being taken into custody by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The Presidency further noted that Vice President Kashim Shettima had been assigned to stand in for Tinubu at several official engagements during his absence.

Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 for New York, where he is attending the 81st United Nations General Assembly on the President’s behalf and is set to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.

Related: Atiku Slams Tinubu Over Vacation Amid Nigeria’s Security And Economic Woes

With the Vice President away in New York, the statement added that Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, who has also been standing in for the President at various official events, would continue in that role.

Turning to political matters, the Presidency reported that Senator Abubakar Yari, Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, has been spearheading consultations between key party figures and prominent traditional rulers nationwide.

The statement also addressed remarks from former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, who had pressed for an explanation over Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly.

The Presidency dismissed Atiku’s comments, along with those from a U.S.-based lobbying firm, as “baseless insinuation,” calling them irresponsible.

“Vice President Shettima, who is representing the President at the global conference, will present Nigeria’s national statement,” the statement said.