President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his ongoing working vacation by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin the working vacation before moving 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 Bolloré, whose business interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
Despite being away from Nigeria, Tinubu has continued to oversee the affairs of the country and issue directives on key national matters.
The Presidency cited the President’s directive for an independent panel to investigate the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna as one of the actions taken during his vacation.
During his absence, Tinubu delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at several official engagements.
Shettima, however, departed Abuja on September 20 for New York, where he is representing Nigeria and President Tinubu at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, will continue to represent the President at official functions while the President remains away, according to the statement.
On the political front, the Presidency said the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, has been leading consultations with prominent traditional rulers alongside other notable party leaders.
The statement also dismissed insinuations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm headed by an ex-convict over Tinubu’s absence from the United Nations General Assembly.
The Presidency described the insinuations as “irresponsible.”
Meanwhile, Shettima, who is representing Tinubu at the global gathering in New York, is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement at the 81st UN General Assembly.
Onanuga said the President would return to Nigeria at the weekend after extending his working vacation by a few days.