President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, according to the Presidency.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin his vacation before travelling to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the development in a statement on Monday, noting that Tinubu had remained in contact with events in Nigeria and continued to oversee the country’s affairs while abroad.
According to the statement, Tinubu had issued several directives during his absence, including the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 illegal miners in Minna following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“President Tinubu will return to Nigeria at the weekend, following the extension of his working vacation by a few days,” the statement said.
During the President’s absence, Vice President Kashim Shettima has represented him at several official engagements.
However, Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 for New York, where he is scheduled to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The general debate of the assembly is set to begin on Tuesday, September 22.
The Presidency said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, who has also represented Tinubu at official functions, would continue in that role.
Shettima will also represent the President at the UN General Assembly and deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
Meanwhile, Onanuga said the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, had been conducting consultations with prominent traditional rulers across the country.
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The Presidency also criticised comments by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm led by an ex-convict over Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly.
It described the claims as an “irresponsible” and “baseless insinuation”.
Tinubu’s engagements in Paris included meetings with Macron and Bolloré, whose business interests span the media and entertainment sectors.
With the extension of his working vacation, the President is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.