President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his working vacation in Europe by a few days and is now expected to return to Nigeria this weekend.

The Presidency disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. 

Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London, United Kingdom, to begin his three-week working vacation. After spending about a week in London, he proceeded to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré. 

According to Onanuga, the President has remained in touch with developments in Nigeria and continued to direct the affairs of government while away.

He cited Tinubu’s directive for an independent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna as one of the matters the President had addressed during his vacation.

The presidential aide said Vice President Kashim Shettima had represented Tinubu at some official engagements during his absence. However, Shettima travelled to New York on September 20 to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

Onanuga said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, would continue to represent the President at official events in Nigeria while Shettima is away.

On the political front, Onanuga disclosed that the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abubakar Yari, had been leading consultations with prominent traditional rulers alongside other party leaders.

The Presidency also rejected questions from former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over Tinubu’s absence from the UN General Assembly, describing the concerns as “baseless insinuation.”

It said Shettima, who is representing Tinubu at the UN General Assembly, would deliver Nigeria’s national statement.

The President is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.