President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his working vacation in Europe by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria this weekend.
His Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
“President Tinubu extends working vacation by a few days
“President Tinubu will return to Nigeria at the weekend, following the extension of his working vacation by a few days.
“President Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin the working vacation,” the statement read in part.
Tinubu initially travelled to London on August 30 before proceeding to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
Onanuga said the President had continued to monitor developments in Nigeria and direct the affairs of the country despite being abroad.
He cited Tinubu’s order for an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State.
Onanuga added that Vice-President Kashim Shettima had represented Tinubu at some official engagements during the President’s absence.
Shettima later travelled to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is representing Tinubu and is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
With Shettima away, Onanuga said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, would continue to represent the President at official functions.
On the political front, Onanuga said the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, had been leading senior party members in consultations with prominent traditional rulers across the country.
Onanuga also dismissed as irresponsible the insinuations made by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm regarding Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly.
He said Shettima’s representation at the international gathering was part of the President’s arrangements, adding that the Vice-President would deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
Onanuga reiterated that Tinubu would return to Nigeria at the weekend after extending his working vacation by a few days.