The Presidency announced on Monday that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his working vacation in Europe by a few days. He is now scheduled to return to Nigeria over the weekend.
Tinubu left Abuja on August 30 for what was initially announced as a three-week vacation, beginning in London, United Kingdom. The original schedule would have seen the President return at the end of the weekend.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Monday that the President had extended the vacation by “a few days” and would return to the country at the weekend.
The Presidency said Tinubu had remained actively engaged in the affairs of the country throughout the vacation, issuing directives and maintaining communication with officials at home.
After spending about a week in London, the President travelled to Paris, France, where he held engagements with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
Read Also: Fed Govt threatens to shut down coastal highway over vandalism
Tinubu met Bolloré on Friday for talks on expanding investment in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy. The Bolloré Group’s media and digital interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group.
According to the Presidency, the President has continued to direct affairs of state while abroad, including ordering an investigation into the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State. NigeriaNews Subscription
Tinubu had on Friday ordered a full and transparent investigation into the incident, insisting that enforcement of the law must not result in violations of the rights and dignity of people in government custody.
He also directed that any official found by the investigation to have contributed to the deaths through action, abuse or negligence should be prosecuted.
Following the directive, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The Presidency said Vice President Kashim Shettima had also continued to represent Tinubu at designated official functions during the President’s absence.
Shettima is currently leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States, where he is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement on behalf of the President.
Onanuga said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, who has also been representing Tinubu at official events, would continue to perform such assignments.
The statement also addressed criticism of Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly, dismissing insinuations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm over the President’s decision not to personally attend the gathering.
The Presidency described the criticism as “baseless” and “irresponsible,” stressing that Shettima was representing the President at the global meeting and had the mandate to present Nigeria’s position.
On the political front, the statement said the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, had been leading prominent party figures in consultations with traditional rulers across the country ahead of the 2027 elections.
Tinubu’s vacation began on August 30, when the Presidency announced that he would spend three weeks in Europe as part of his annual leave before returning to Nigeria.
