By Desmond Ogbonmwan
The Presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s continued stay outside Nigeria, saying he is “hale and hearty” and remains engaged in official duties while on a working vacation.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the clarification on Sunday, September 27, amid renewed questions over Tinubu’s prolonged absence from the country and his decision not to personally attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Onanuga said the President was entitled to his annual vacation and did not need to be physically present in Abuja to perform his executive responsibilities.
“Nigeria’s President is hale and hearty. He has been on a working vacation, which he is perfectly entitled to. In this digital age, he does not need to be physically present in Abuja to do the work for which he was elected in 2023,” Onanuga said.
Presidency Defends Tinubu’s Absence
The statement came after opposition figures and political groups questioned the length of Tinubu’s stay abroad and the arrangements for running the government while he was away.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for an annual vacation that was initially expected to last three weeks. The Presidency later announced an extension of the trip, with the President remaining in Europe.
Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the United Nations General Assembly in New York instead of Tinubu.
The Presidency has maintained that Tinubu’s absence from the country does not prevent him from carrying out his responsibilities.
Onanuga Points to Meetings in France
Onanuga cited Tinubu’s meetings with investors in France as evidence that the President has continued to work during his time abroad.
He specifically referred to the proposed $7 billion Gateway Deep Seaport and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone at Ogun Waterside, an Ogun State Government initiative.
The project has been presented as part of efforts to expand infrastructure and maritime activity in the state, with the Presidency pointing to Tinubu’s role in facilitating the investment.
The Presidency’s argument is that modern communication and digital technology allow the President to remain engaged with government affairs even when he is outside Abuja.
Tinubu’s Absence From UNGA
Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly has been one of the main issues surrounding his extended stay abroad.
Shettima represented Nigeria at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.
Onanuga noted that Tinubu was not the only African leader absent from the gathering, pointing to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as other prominent African leaders who were not present.
The Presidency also said Tinubu had formally announced his vacation and delegated Nigeria’s representation at the UNGA to Shettima.
Earlier Debate Over Presidential Authority
The latest statement follows an earlier debate about whether Tinubu needed to formally transmit power to the Vice President during his absence.
Earlier in September, Presidential Adviser Daniel Bwala argued that the President’s constitutional authority was not limited by geography and said Tinubu could exercise his responsibilities from anywhere in the world.
Opposition figures and political groups, however, have questioned the constitutional arrangements surrounding the President’s extended absence.
The African Democratic Congress, for example, has asked the Presidency to clarify the constitutional basis for the continued arrangement, particularly after the initial 21-day vacation period.
This creates two separate issues in the public debate: whether the President can communicate and conduct official business while abroad, and what constitutional procedures apply when a President is away for an extended period.
Presidency Says Tinubu Will Return
According to the Presidency, Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria during the week ahead of the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary on October 1.
He is also expected to participate in events connected to the anniversary and attend a Lagos premiere of a film commemorating the late democracy campaigner and businessman MKO Abiola.
The latest update therefore suggests that the current period abroad is approaching its conclusion.
Why This Matters
Tinubu’s extended absence has become a political and constitutional issue as well as a question of presidential travel.
The Presidency’s position is that the President remains capable of discharging his duties from abroad and has continued to work during his vacation.
Opposition parties and other political actors have focused instead on the length of the absence and the constitutional arrangements governing presidential functions when the President is outside the country.
These are distinct arguments, and the current public statements do not resolve the broader disagreement over the constitutional interpretation of an extended presidential absence.
What Happens Next?
The Presidency says Tinubu is expected back in Nigeria this week.
His return would shift the immediate focus away from his physical absence and back toward his government’s policy agenda and the political issues surrounding the 2027 election.
For now, the Presidency continues to maintain that Tinubu is in good health, remains engaged with government affairs and is entitled to his working vacation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is President Tinubu currently in Nigeria?
As of the Presidency’s September 27 statement, Tinubu remained abroad on a working vacation. The Presidency said he was expected to return to Nigeria during the week ahead of the October 1 Independence Anniversary.
Why has Tinubu been outside Nigeria?
The Presidency initially described the trip as Tinubu’s annual vacation. It was later extended by a few days, with the President continuing to hold meetings and other engagements while abroad.
Who represented Nigeria at the 2026 UN General Assembly?
Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York while Tinubu remained abroad.
