President Bola Tinubu will not personally attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York, United States, despite earlier confirming his attendance and being listed to deliver Nigeria’s national statement, with Vice President Kashim Shettima now directed to represent him for the third consecutive year.
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The latest development also means an earlier much-publicised plan under which Tinubu was expected to sit in the front row “very, very close” to United States President Donald Trump at the General Assembly will no longer materialise as initially announced.
Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, announced on Sunday that Shettima would lead Nigeria’s delegation to UNGA81, deliver the country’s national statement and participate in high-level diplomatic engagements in New York.
The decision represents a significant change from earlier preparations for Tinubu to personally return to the UN General Assembly after staying away from the gathering in 2024 and 2025.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, had on July 15, 2026, disclosed after meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that the President had personally confirmed that he would attend the September gathering.
“The President was able to give us his word. Now he will come to UNGA this September,” Ibrahim said at the time.
According to the ambassador, Tinubu was expected to use his appearance before world leaders to highlight his administration’s reforms as well as canvass international support for improved border policing and security cooperation across West Africa.
Ibrahim said arrangements were also being considered for the President to participate in side events dealing with energy, education and healthcare, although he stressed that officials did not intend to overcrowd Tinubu’s itinerary.
The ambassador attracted further attention when he was asked whether Tinubu would have a one-on-one meeting with Trump during the gathering.
While Ibrahim declined to confirm whether a bilateral meeting between both leaders had been arranged, he declared that the Nigerian President would be seated close to the American President in the General Assembly hall.
“I can tell you clearly that President Tinubu will be sitting very, very close to Donald Trump in the front row,” Ibrahim said.
He further said at the time that Tinubu’s speaking schedule was being arranged so that Nigerians at home would be awake to watch the address live.
The ambassador’s statement was reinforced the following month when a provisional list of speakers for UNGA81 named Tinubu among leaders scheduled to address the General Debate.
The provisional programme, reported on August 19, placed Tinubu as the 10th speaker during the morning session on Wednesday, September 23, the second day of the high-level General Debate.
He was expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement between approximately 11:30 a.m. and noon New York time, corresponding to about 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nigerian time.
Those arrangements have now changed.
Under the latest plan announced on Sunday, Shettima will head Nigeria’s delegation and speak for the country during the General Debate, meaning Tinubu will once again not attend the annual UN gathering in person.
Shettima is expected to use Nigeria’s national statement to set out the country’s positions and priorities on global issues affecting national development, peace and security, economic growth and international cooperation.
He will also participate in a series of high-level meetings, with his engagements expected to focus on the right to development, climate action and other issues considered strategically important to Nigeria and Africa.
The 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly formally opened on September 8, 2026, while the high-level General Debate will take place from September 22 to 26 and conclude on September 28 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
UNGA81 is being held under the theme, “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All,” with Dr Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh serving as President of the 81st Session of the General Assembly.
The UN says world leaders will use the General Debate to outline their countries’ positions and priorities against the backdrop of interconnected challenges involving peace, security and sustainable development.
Among the major events during the high-level period is a September 23 meeting commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development.
A high-level meeting addressing the existential threats posed by sea-level rise is scheduled for September 24, while another meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response will take place on September 25.
On September 28, world leaders are expected to mark the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, while a high-level plenary commemorating the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is scheduled for September 29.
The UN’s high-level programme also includes a September 23 event on climate action and the just transition.
Shettima is also expected to attend the traditional reception for heads of delegation and hold bilateral engagements with foreign leaders, international organisations and development partners on the sidelines of the Assembly.
According to the Presidency, Nigeria will use the engagements to advance its economic diplomacy, strengthen international partnerships and promote its positions on reform of the global financial architecture, sustainable development, climate finance and multilateral cooperation.
The Vice President is expected to return to Nigeria after completing his engagements in New York.
Shettima’s representation means Tinubu will now be absent from the UN General Assembly in person for the third consecutive year after attending the 78th Session in 2023.
In September 2024, Tinubu directed Shettima to represent him at the 79th UN General Assembly. The Presidency explained at the time that the President wanted to concentrate on domestic issues after returning from trips to China and the United Kingdom, particularly in the wake of devastating floods in parts of Nigeria.
Shettima consequently led the Nigerian delegation, delivered the national statement and participated in bilateral and other high-level engagements.
Tinubu again stayed away from the General Assembly in 2025, with Shettima leading Nigeria’s delegation to UNGA80 and delivering the country’s national statement on his behalf.
The situation appeared set to change in 2026 when Ibrahim announced in July that Tinubu had agreed to personally return to the gathering. TheCable reported at the time that such an appearance would have marked Tinubu’s first physical participation at the General Assembly since UNGA78 in 2023.
But with Sunday’s announcement naming Shettima as leader of Nigeria’s delegation, the Vice President will now represent Tinubu at the UN General Assembly for the third successive year.
The Presidency has not, in the announcement of the new arrangement, stated why Tinubu will no longer personally attend UNGA81 despite his earlier confirmation, his inclusion on the provisional speakers’ list and the preparations publicly outlined by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
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