- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation after his three-week scheduled break elapsed.
The President reportedly extended it by a few days and is due to return to Nigeria at the weekend.
This was made known in a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the president on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to Onanuga, Tinubu who departed Nigeria on August 30 for London spent a week in the city before moving to Paris, France.
The President met with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, and businessman Mr Vincent Bollore, whose media group includes Canal+, Multichoice, and Universal Music Group.
Meanwhile, Onanuga noted that Tinubu has been actively engaged in the affairs of the country, citing his directives on the probe of the mysterious death of 37 Minna miners as well as delegating of Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at the 2026 United Nations General Assembly in the United States.
‘Since he began the vacation, President Tinubu has continued to keep in touch with home, directing the affairs of the nation, like ordering an independent panel to investigate the death of 37 illegal miners in Minna, following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, among other things.
‘While away, President Tinubu delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at some official functions.
‘Though Shettima left Abuja on September 20 for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who has also been representing the President at events, will continue to do so.’ Onanuga wrote.
On the political front, the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Senator Abubakar Yari, according to the presidential aide, has been leading notable party leaders in consultations with prominent traditional rulers in the country.
Meanwhile, Onanuga described the claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York L,C, allegedly headed by an ex-convict, about Tinubu’s non-attendance at UNGA as irresponsible.
He held that Vice President Shettima, who is representing the President at the global conference, will present Nigeria’s national statement.
