President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation in Europe by a few days and is now expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, following the expiration of the three-week annual leave he commenced on August 30, 2026.
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The Presidency had initially announced that Tinubu would spend three weeks in Europe as part of his annual leave, beginning in London, United Kingdom, before returning to Nigeria. On Monday, however, Information Minister Mohammed Idris confirmed that the President remains on annual leave, while a fresh report said his stay had been extended by a few days.
Tinubu departed Abuja on August 30, with London as his first stop. He subsequently travelled to Paris, France, where he continued what the Presidency has consistently described as a working vacation. He arrived in Paris on September 13, meaning he had spent about two weeks in Europe before beginning the Paris leg of the trip.
While in France, Tinubu held a private dinner meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace as part of continuing Nigeria-France engagements.
He also met businessman Vincent Bolloré and executives of the Bolloré Group in Paris, with discussions centred on expanding investments in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy.
According to the Presidency, the Bolloré Group, whose interests include Canal+, MultiChoice and Universal Music Group, indicated plans to deepen localisation of its Nigerian operations across film, entertainment, fibre-optic infrastructure and related sectors.
Tinubu, during the meeting, reiterated his administration’s commitment to attracting investment, creating jobs and expanding opportunities in Nigeria’s digital and creative industries.
Despite being outside the country, the Presidency has maintained that Tinubu continues to perform presidential functions and receive briefings on national developments.
One of the major decisions taken during the vacation was his directive for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.
Tinubu directed investigators to establish the circumstances of the arrests, detention conditions, medical treatment provided to the detainees and events leading to their deaths.
He also warned that suspension of officials should not substitute for criminal prosecution where evidence establishes responsibility for the deaths.
The extension of the President’s vacation comes as Vice President Kashim Shettima represents him at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Tinubu had originally been expected to personally attend UNGA81, but the Presidency announced on September 20 that Shettima would instead lead Nigeria’s delegation.
Shettima subsequently travelled to New York and arrived on Monday to undertake Nigeria’s engagements at the high-level meeting.
The Vice President is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement during the General Debate and participate in high-level meetings and bilateral engagements.
An updated provisional speakers’ schedule places Nigeria’s statement on Thursday, September 24, with Shettima expected to speak during the afternoon session.
This will be the third consecutive UN General Assembly at which Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement on behalf of Tinubu, having represented the President at the 79th and 80th sessions in 2024 and 2025.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris has defended the arrangement, saying Tinubu’s decision to delegate the assignment to Shettima was neither unusual nor capable of diminishing Nigeria’s diplomatic standing.
According to Idris, Shettima is attending the gathering with the full mandate of both the President and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The President’s non-attendance at UNGA81 has nevertheless generated political criticism, particularly because Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations had earlier indicated that Tinubu would personally attend the gathering.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has publicly questioned the President’s absence, while presidential aides have rejected suggestions that it reflects any difficulty between Tinubu and the United States.
Meanwhile, political activities connected with Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign have continued in his absence.
The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has been leading consultations with traditional and religious leaders across the country.
The campaign delegation has met, among others, the Sultan of Sokoto, the Oba of Lagos, the Oba of Benin and the Shehu of Borno as part of stakeholder consultations ahead of the formal campaign programme.
The Presidency had stated when Tinubu commenced his annual leave that he would return to Nigeria to participate in the campaign ahead of the January 2027 general elections.
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