Tinubu to Miss UNGA; VP Shettima to Lead Nigeria's Delegation at UNGA

The Presidency announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, opting to return to Nigeria after a three-week vacation in Europe. Vice President Kashim Shettima has been directed to lead Nigeria's delegation, and a provisional speaker list from the News Agency of Nigeria shows Shettima slated to deliver Nigeria's high-level debate address, taking over Tinubu's scheduled 10th-speaker slot on the morning of September 23.

Tinubu's absence means Nigeria's voice at a pivotal global forum—where issues like climate finance, security reforms and development funding are debated—will be represented by the VP instead of the president. The high-level week runs from September 22 to 29, and the president was originally listed among the morning speakers on the second day. This development follows recent speculation about Tinubu's whereabouts after his European break and underscores the VP's growing role in international representation.

While citizens need take no immediate action, those tracking Nigeria's foreign policy should note the delegation's statements and consider how the VP's leadership might shape the country's stance on key global matters. With the VP stepping in, what expectations do you have for Nigeria's position on topics such as climate reform, security cooperation and economic partnerships at the UNGA?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/20/presidency-confirms-tinubus-absence-from-un-general-assembly/