Tinubu Extends Working Vacation, Returns to Nigeria at Weekend – Onanuga
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his working vacation by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, the Presidency has said.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London, United Kingdom, to begin the working vacation before proceeding to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu has remained in touch with officials in Nigeria and continued to direct the affairs of government during his absence.
The Presidency cited the President’s directive for the establishment of an independent investigative panel into the deaths of 37 illegal miners in Minna, following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as one of the decisions taken while he has been away from the country.
Tinubu had also delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at some official engagements during the vacation.
Shettima, however, departed Abuja on September 20 for New York to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to deliver the country’s national statement.
The Presidency said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who has also represented the President at official functions, would continue to do so while Tinubu remains away.
On the political front, the statement said the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, had been leading senior party leaders in consultations with prominent traditional rulers across the country.
The Presidency also dismissed as baseless insinuations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm headed by a former convict over Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly.
It described the claims concerning the President’s non-attendance at the global gathering as irresponsible.
The statement was signed by Onanuga and dated September 21, 2026.
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