Tinubu misses UNGA for third consecutive year

Tinubu misses UNGA for third consecutive year

President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 81st consultation of the United nations preferred assembly in ny, with vp Kashim Shettima distinctive to steer Nigeria’s delegation.

The choice means Tinubu can be absent from the UN popular meeting’s excessive-degree collecting for the 1/3 consecutive 12 months, having additionally been represented by using Shettima on the 79th and 80th classes in 2024 and 2025. Stanley Nkwocha, spokesman to the vice chairman, showed the arrangement in a announcement.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated vice president Kashim Shettima to symbolize him and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st consultation of the United nations trendy meeting, UNGA, in the big apple, u.s.a.. vp Shettima will lead a high-stage delegation comprising Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers kingdom; Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara kingdom; ministers and other senior government officers. The 81st UNGA general Debate may be held from September 22 to 28, 2026, beneath the theme, ‘Restoring trust, handling transformation: A United nations that can provide for all.’

“At the overall Debate, Senator Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national assertion, outlining the usa’s role and priorities on important global problems with implications for national development, peace and security, economic growth and international cooperation. The vice chairman will also participate in excessive-level conferences at some stage in the UNGA week, consisting of engagements at the right to improvement, climate action and different issues of strategic importance to Nigeria and the African continent,” the announcement stated.

Shettima is also anticipated to wait the conventional reception for heads of delegation and maintain bilateral conferences with leaders of different international locations, worldwide enterprises and development companions at the sidelines of the general assembly. in line with the Presidency, the engagements will attention on Nigeria’s financial diplomacy, strategic partnerships, reform of the worldwide economic structure, sustainable development, climate finance and multilateral cooperation.

Tinubu’s selection not to wait follows in advance indications that he would personally participate in this 12 months’s accumulating. Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United international locations, Jimoh Ibrahim, had previously said preparations had been being made for Tinubu to attend, which includes provisions for him to sit close to US President Donald Trump.

Ibrahim has due to the fact that dismissed concerns about Tinubu’s absence, announcing Nigeria will stay completely represented at the overall assembly. He said Shettima, overseas Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and different senior government officials might take part in key engagements all through the high-degree session.

Ibrahim additionally said it used to be commonplace diplomatic exercise for presidents to be represented by vice presidents or overseas ministers when they do not attend the once a year collecting. in keeping with the envoy, extra than 60 consistent with cent of these listed to speak at the session are being represented with the aid of vice presidents or foreign ministers.

“The vice president and the Minister of foreign Affairs are safely placed to symbolize Nigeria at the overall assembly and participate absolutely in the diplomatic engagements surrounding the consultation,” Ibrahim stated. He also maintained that Nigeria would preserve its designated seating arrangement, along with its the front-row position at the meeting.

“The absence of the President ought to not be interpreted as Nigeria being inadequately represented. Our delegation will continue to take part absolutely within the complaints,” he said. The UN wellknown Debate is scheduled to start on September 22 and continue thru September 26 earlier than concluding on September 28.