President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which opens today in New York, but the Presidency insists his absence will not amount to a diplomatic setback for Nigeria.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Vice President Kashim Shettima has been mandated to lead the Nigerian delegation while the President remains on vacation in Europe until the weekend. Shettima is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement on Thursday and will hold high-level bilateral and multilateral meetings on behalf of the country.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris urged opposition parties to temper their reactions, warning that unrestrained comments could damage Nigeria’s international standing.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had criticised Tinubu’s decision to stay away, claiming it weakened Nigeria’s presence at the global gathering and hinting that the President might be avoiding the United States. Onanuga dismissed the remarks as “baseless” and “irresponsible.”
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol Ademola Oshodi rejected suggestions of any legal or immigration barrier preventing Tinubu from travelling to the US. “There is absolutely no impediment… It is pure politics,” Oshodi said, noting that Tinubu had previously attended the 78th UNGA in 2023 and visited Los Angeles in 2025.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, pointed out that more than 60 per cent of invited heads of state and government will be represented by their deputies or foreign ministers this year, describing the President’s absence as “not a minus.”
Shettima arrived in New York on Sunday night accompanied by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning Doris Uzoka-Anite and other senior officials. He said Nigeria would use the platform to push for reforms of global institutions and a fairer international order.
“Our message in New York is clear. Nigeria believes in multilateralism, but the institutions that govern our world must become more representative, equitable and responsive to the realities of today,” Shettima stated.
Nigeria will renew its campaign for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, citing its population size, contributions to regional security and peacekeeping, and status as Africa’s largest economy. The country will also advocate reforms of the global financial system, greater access to climate finance and technology, and stronger African representation in international decision-making.
Several state governors attending the summit plan to court foreign investment. Governor Fubara is seeking partnerships in oil and gas, while Nasarawa’s Abdullahi Sule and Kebbi’s Nasir Idris are expected to promote opportunities in solid minerals. Other attendees include Governors AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Babagana Zulum (Borno) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), alongside senior federal ministers.
The General Debate of the 81st UNGA runs until 28 September under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”