President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation abroad by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, the Presidency announced on Monday.
Gatekeepers News reports that Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement, saying Tinubu had remained in contact with officials in Nigeria and continued to direct the affairs of the country while away.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London, where he spent about a week before travelling to Paris, France.
During his stay in Paris, the President met with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose business interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
According to the Presidency, Tinubu has continued to take decisions on national matters despite his absence from the country. One of the directives issued during the vacation was the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Minna, Niger State, following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The President had delegated Vice-President Kashim Shettima to represent him at some official engagements during his absence.
However, Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is representing Tinubu and will present Nigeria’s national statement.
With Shettima away, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, will continue representing the President at official functions, according to the Presidency.
The Presidency also addressed criticism over Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly, dismissing remarks attributed to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm concerning the President’s non-attendance.
Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend after the extension of his working vacation.
