After weeks of speculations, the federal government has put to rest claims by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, that President Bola Tinubu will attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, as the Presidency on Sunday disclosed that Vice President Kashim Shettima will be leading the Nigerian delegation.
This is the third consecutive times the president will be failing to attend the global talk shop. Tinubu had personally attended the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, while Vice President Kashim Shettima represented him at the 79th and 80th sessions.
Ibrahim had in July disclosed that President Tinubu will be attending the UNGA after he presented the budget for Nigeria’s participation at the State House, Abuja.
The Nigerian envoy at that time said the president had agreed to attend the global meeting and would also take part in several side events, including discussions on energy, education, and hospital management.
“The president was able to give us his word. Now he will come to UNGA this September,” Ibrahim said.
According to him, President Tinubu’s participation will provide another opportunity for Nigeria to project its reform efforts before the international community.
He added that the president would also use the platform to engage on border policing in West Africa, describing porous borders in the sub-region as a major security concern.
“So border policing will be fine. These are the kind of things that the UN is established for,” he said.
He also hinted at the possibility of a meeting between Tinubu and United States President Donald Trump at the UN headquarters, saying the Nigerian leader would sit in the front row and address the General Assembly at about 10:45 a.m. New York time.
Indications emerged that Tinubu, who departed Abuja for a three-week vacation in Europe on August 30, would return to the country after his leave, would miss the UNGA in US.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, the Presidency said Shettima would lead the Nigerian delegation.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, in New York, United States.
“VP Shettima will lead a high-level delegation comprising Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State; Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State; ministers and other senior government officials,” the statement said.
Following the absence of the president at the UNGA, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has taken a swipe at Tinubu’s absence.
According to Atiku in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, he asked whether the President’s documented history with United States law-enforcement agencies has become a burden on Nigeria’s foreign relations.
“What exactly did Nigerians purchase with that money? Why spend millions of dollars lobbying Washington while Tinubu repeatedly stays away from New York? Why hire lobbyists to speak for Nigeria in America when the Nigerian President cannot summon the courage to appear at the world’s biggest diplomatic gathering on American soil?
“Is Tinubu afraid that he could become Donald Trump’s next Nicolás Maduro?
“Is he haunted by the controversies surrounding his American academic claims and his documented drug-related forfeiture history?
“Is this the kind of President Nigeria deserves — one who projects bravado at home but appears terrified of scrutiny abroad?”
The 81st UNGA General Debate is scheduled to hold from September 22 to 28, 2026, under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
At the General Debate, the statement said “Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement, outlining the country’s position and priorities on major global issues with implications for national development, peace and security, economic growth and international cooperation.
“The Vice President will also participate in high-level meetings during the UNGA week, including engagements on the Right to Development, climate action and other issues of strategic importance to Nigeria and the African continent.
“Shettima is also expected to join other world leaders at the traditional reception for heads of delegation and participate in bilateral meetings with leaders of other countries, international organisations and development partners on the sidelines of the General Assembly.”
