*President Bola Tinubu.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his working vacation in Europe by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, the Presidency has said.
The President departed Nigeria on August 30 for London, United Kingdom, to begin the working vacation before proceeding to Paris, France, where he 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 the country, President Tinubu has continued to monitor developments at home and direct the affairs of government, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said in a press statement on Monday September 21, 2026.
Among the matters he has addressed, according to Onanuga,
was the death of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State. The President directed the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The Presidency said the President had also continued to discharge other official responsibilities while on the working vacation.
During his absence, President Tinubu delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at a number of official engagements.
Shettima, however, departed Abuja on September 20 for New York to represent Nigeria and the President at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
With the Vice President at the United Nations, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who has also represented the President at official functions, will continue to represent him at relevant engagements.
On the political front, the Presidency said the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, has continued consultations with prominent traditional rulers alongside other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Presidency also dismissed as irresponsible what it described as insinuations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm regarding President Tinubu’s non-attendance at the UN General Assembly.
It noted that Vice President Shettima is representing the President at the global gathering and will deliver Nigeria’s national statement.