Tinubu Extends Vacation, Says Governance Continues Despite Absence
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his ongoing working vacation by a few days and is now scheduled to return to the country at the upcoming weekend, the Presidency announced on Monday.
The disclosure was made in an official statement issued on September 21, 2026, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
President Tinubu initially departed Nigeria on August 30 to begin his vacation in London. After spending a week in the United Kingdom, the president proceeded to Paris, France, where he held high-profile diplomatic and business meetings.
Among his engagements were talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and prominent French businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose media conglomerate controls major entities including Canal+, Multichoice, and Universal Music Group.
Governance from abroad
Despite being out of the country, the State House emphasized that President Tinubu remains actively engaged in state affairs and continues to direct national matters from abroad.
Notably, the president recently ordered the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the tragic deaths of 37 illegal miners in Minna, Niger State, following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
For Presidency also insists that despite the Tinubu’s absence in the country, official domestic functions have been delegated to Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
While Vice President Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Senator Akume will continue representing the President at key state events.
Concurrently, on the political front, Senator Abubakar Yari, the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), has been leading a delegation of party chieftains in consultative meetings with prominent traditional rulers across the nation.
Presidency Slams UNGA Absence Criticisms
The State House fiercely defended the President against political backlash regarding his absence from the global gathering in New York. The Presidency described criticisms from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a United States-based lobbying firm—which it alleged is headed by an ex-convict—as “irresponsible” and “baseless insinuation.”
The statement reaffirmed that Vice President Shettima is fully authorized to represent Nigeria at the high-level global conference and will deliver the country’s national statement to the UN General Assembly.
