President Bola Tinubu has prolonged his working vacation by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria this weekend, according to the Presidency.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London, where he commenced his working vacation before travelling to Paris, France, after spending a week in the United Kingdom.
While in Paris, the President held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bollore, whose media interests include Canal+, Multichoice and Universal Music Group.
In a statement released on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said Tinubu had continued to monitor developments in Nigeria and remained actively involved in the running of government despite being out of the country.
The Presidency disclosed that the President had, among other directives, approved the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Minna after they were detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
It also stated that Tinubu had assigned Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at several official engagements while he remains away.
Shettima travelled from Abuja to New York on September 20 for the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is representing the President and is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
The Presidency added that while the Vice President is in New York, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who has also been standing in for the President at official events, would continue with the responsibility.
On political matters, the Presidency said the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, had been coordinating consultations involving key party figures and prominent traditional rulers across the country.
The Presidency also reacted to remarks by former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who questioned Tinubu’s absence from the United Nations General Assembly and demanded an explanation.
It described the comments by Atiku and a United States-based lobbying firm as “baseless insinuation,” saying the remarks were irresponsible.
“Vice President Shettima, who is representing the President at the global conference, will present Nigeria’s national statement,” the statement said.
