The Presidency has dismissed concerns that President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York could weaken Nigeria’s diplomatic standing, insisting that Vice President Kashim Shettima has full presidential authority to represent the country and advance its positions at the global gathering.
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Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and presidential officials made the clarification as the General Debate of the 81st UNGA opened in New York, amid criticism from opposition figures over Tinubu’s decision not to attend personally.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Nigeria was adequately represented by Shettima, who was specifically mandated by Tinubu to lead the country’s delegation while the President remains on an extended working vacation in Europe. Shettima is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement on Thursday and participate in bilateral and multilateral engagements on behalf of the country.
The State House had announced on September 21 that Tinubu extended his working vacation by a few days and would return to Nigeria at the weekend. The President left Nigeria on August 30 for London before subsequently travelling to Paris, where he held engagements with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
Tinubu’s absence from this year’s UN gathering has attracted criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his party, the African Democratic Congress, who argued that the President’s non-attendance diminished Nigeria’s participation at the international event. They also raised questions over whether Tinubu was avoiding travel to the United States.
The Presidency rejected those claims.
Onanuga described the assertions by Atiku and a United States-based lobbying group concerning Tinubu’s absence as baseless and irresponsible, stressing that Shettima’s representation did not diminish Nigeria’s standing at the UN. The official State House statement similarly said the Vice President would present Nigeria’s national statement.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, also dismissed suggestions that Tinubu stayed away because of a possible United States entry restriction or fear of legal action.
According to Oshodi, there is “absolutely no impediment” preventing the President from travelling to the United States. He described claims to the contrary as political and noted that Tinubu had travelled to the US since assuming office, including his participation in the 78th UN General Assembly in 2023 and a subsequent visit to Los Angeles.
The Presidency also argued that the physical presence of a president at the General Assembly should not be regarded as the sole measure of a country’s diplomatic engagement.
Its position is that the substance of Nigeria’s representation, the positions advanced during meetings and the outcomes secured for the country are more important than whether the President personally delivers the national statement.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, similarly said the President’s absence should not be regarded as a diplomatic minus, noting that heads of government are frequently represented at UN gatherings by vice presidents, foreign ministers and other senior officials.
Tinubu personally represented Nigeria at the 78th UNGA in 2023, while Shettima represented him at the 79th and 80th sessions in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
Shettima arrived in New York with senior government officials, including Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning Doris Uzoka-Anite.
Other members of the Nigerian delegation include Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake; Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and other senior officials.
Ahead of his engagements, Shettima said Nigeria would approach the General Assembly from the standpoint of national interest and use the gathering to press for reforms of global institutions.
He said Nigeria remained committed to multilateralism but wanted international institutions to become more representative, equitable and responsive to present-day economic and demographic realities.
One of Nigeria’s principal objectives at the gathering is a renewed push for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
The Federal Government argues that Nigeria’s population, role in regional peace and security, contribution to international peacekeeping and economic position strengthen its case for permanent representation on the Council.
Nigeria is also expected to advocate reforms of the global financial architecture, improved access to climate finance, sustainable development financing, technology access and stronger African representation in international decision-making.
The agenda builds on Nigeria’s position at the 80th UNGA, where Shettima, representing Tinubu, argued that global institutions needed to reflect contemporary realities and called for stronger representation for developing countries and Africa.
Beyond federal diplomatic priorities, state governors attending the gathering are also seeking investment opportunities.
Fubara is expected to promote partnerships around Rivers State’s oil and gas resources, while Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule and Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris are targeting investment opportunities in solid minerals and other areas of economic interest.
The 81st UNGA General Debate is being held under the theme, “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All,” with proceedings running through September 28.
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